Boris Johnson denies lying about party at Downing Street

But the British Prime Minister ducked questions about whether he would resign if an internal inquiry establishes that he did lie.

Boris Johnson visits Finchley Memorial Hospital in north London on Tuesday. Picture: Getty Images

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has “categorically” denied claims by his former chief aide that he lied to parliament about a Downing Street party held during a strict lockdown.

But appearing in public for the first time after days of Covid self-isolation, Mr Johnson on Tuesday ducked questions about whether he would resign if an internal inquiry establishes that he did lie.

But more trouble struck Mr Johnson on Wednesday when Conservative MP Christian Wakeford defected to the opposition Labour Party in protest at the Prime Minister’s behaviour. “You and the Conservative Party as a whole have shown themselves incapable of offering the leadership and government this country deserves,” Mr Wakeford said in a message to Mr Johnson.

The Prime Minister is battling damaging allegations that he and staff ­attended boozy events during Covid restrictions, prompting an investigation by senior civil servant Sue Gray. The revelations have sparked public fury, leading to a double-digit lead in polls for Labour over Mr Johnson’s Conservatives, and calls from some Tories for him to quit.

Mr Johnson has apologised for a party on May 20, 2020 in the Downing Street garden, telling the House of Commons last week he thought it was a “work event”, despite an aide inviting staff to “bring your own booze”.

But his former senior adviser Dominic Cummings, who has been waging a vendetta against Mr Johnson since leaving Downing Street in late 2020, said he warned his then boss about the event at the time.

“I can tell you categorically that nobody told me, nobody said this was something that was against the rules, that it was a breach of the Covid rules, that it was something that wasn’t a work event,” Mr Johnson said during a visit to a London Hospital.

“Frankly, I can’t imagine why on earth it would have been ­allowed to go ahead.”

Hanging his head in remorse, Mr Johnson also renewed his ­office’s apology to the Queen after it emerged that his staff held ­leaving parties during national mourning for the Duke of Edinburgh in April last year.

Mr Johnson’s denials have been carefully worded, appearing to clear him of any personal blame even if there was wrongdoing by staff, and relying on a narrow exemption for work gatherings during lockdowns.

But in the latest of an incendiary series of blog posts, Mr Cummings wrote that he told Mr Johnson that Downing Street was becoming a boozy “madhouse”. The Prime Minister “waved it aside”, he said.

“The events of May 20 alone, never mind the string of other events, mean the PM lied to parliament about parties,” said Mr Cummings, adding he was ready to swear to his account “on oath”.

Mr Cummings would give evidence to Ms Gray as part of her inquiry, British media reported.

Six Tory MPs have openly called for Mr Johnson’s resignation, although more are reported to have done so in private. Fifty-four letters from Tory MPs are needed to trigger a no-confidence vote, with indications that constituents have made their feelings about Mr Johnson known to their local representatives over the weekend.

Asked if he would step down, Mr Johnson said: “We’ll have to see what she (Ms Gray) says.

“I repeat my deep apologies to people for mistakes that may have been made on my watch,” he said.

Mr Johnson’s senior ministerial colleagues have largely rallied round him, urging the public to wait for the conclusions from Ms Gray’s investigation, which is expected in the coming days.

But Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab, who is also justice secretary, conceded that a proven lie by a minister “would normally under the ministerial code, and the governance around parliament, be a resigning matter”.

And in his first on-camera comments on the revelations, Chancellor Rishi Sunak, who with Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is tipped as a contender to take over from Mr Johnson in any leadership contest, said “the ministerial code is clear on these matters”.

“I fully support the Prime Minister’s request for patience as this inquiry persists,” Mr Sunak said.

Pressed on whether the Prime Minister had his unequivocal support, Mr Sunak then broke off the interview and walked off with his microphone still attached.

AFP