Boris Johnson did not turn up in the House of Commons to answer an Urgent Question on whether he attended a ‘Bring Your Own Booze’ party in the Downing Street garden in May 2020, when the UK was in the height of lockdown.
Paymaster General, Michael Ellis, was sent to answer the question instead.
Before he responded to the question by Labour deputy leader, Angela Rayner, opposition MPs could be heard shouting “Where is he?”.
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Ellis said there was an investigation underway, led by civil servant Sue Gray, and its findings would be reported in due course.
He said: “The Prime Minister has asked for an investigation to take place and the terms of reference published.
“The Government is committed to publishing the findings and providing it to parliament in the normal way.
“Where there are credible allegations of other gatherings they can be investigated.”
He said this includes the allegations between 15-20th May 2020.
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He added: “If wrong-doing is established, there will be disciplinary action.
“If potentially criminal, the matter would be referred to the Metropolitan Police. Matters adhering to law are, as ever, for the Metropolitan Police.
He added it was “not appropriate to comment on an ongoing investigations.”
Angela Rayner told the House of Commons that people were dying in their hundreds every day at the time.
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She said: “A man called John said on that day he found his wife dead on bathroom floor. And 181 health and social care staff died on that day and 268 people in total died.”
She said Boris Johnson was hiding behind the Gray investigation.
She said: “There is no need. Did the PM attend the party on 20 May 2020?
“It won’t wash to blame this on a few junior civil servants. If the Prime Minister was there, surely he knew.”
She asked if the Prime Minister knew about the party in advance and did he give permission for it to go ahead?
She also asked if the Chief Medical Officer was consulted before it went ahead and “what did chancellor know about it given he works next door?”.
Ian Blackford, SNP Westminster leader, said: “People watched loved ones dying and couldn’t attend funerals while the PM and staff partied behind the walls in his private garden.
“Was sue Gray invited to the party and did she attend?”
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