Boris Johnson is facing further pressure as two ministers slammed him over lockdown-busting parties in Downing Street – just hours after Dominic Cummings said he would take the stand having accused the Prime Minister of misleading Parliament.
Boris Johnson fights for his political survival today, as ministers tried desperately to disarm explosive claims by Dominic Cummings about how he lied in Parliament over Partygate.
Tory panic has grown after the ex-chief aide made another brutal attack. He claimed he’s ready to swear that the PM was told not to hold a drink bash at No10 on May 2020.
It contradicts Johnson’s claim to the House of Commons on Wednesday when he said that he thought ‘implicitly” that the gathering had been a work function.
Dominic Raab was Mr Johnson’s deputy and called the latest accusations against Mr Cummings “nonsense” in an interview this morning. He said he was confident that the PM had been straightforward with the Commons and asked people to await the findings of the investigation by Sue Gray, a top civil servant.
Pushed on whether Mr Johnson should resign if he had ‘knowingly misled’ MPs, Mr Raab told BBC Breakfast: ‘I think the ministerial code should be followed at all times.’
When asked if ministers must resign if lying to Parliament or failing to make corrective actions, Raab replied: “Yes.”
Raab stated that Johnson will continue for many more years, and even into the next election.
Following a shock poll that exposed the effects of the scandal on Conservative voters, the unrest in the Conservative benches has risen. Labour is now 13 points ahead.
Two Johnson ministers voiced dismay at Mr Johnson’s government and bemoaned the loss of public trust.
George Freeman, Science Minister, said that he was shocked and stunned by these revelations and asked why his staff could enjoy such events while their constituents couldn’t view dying loved ones.
Maria Caulfield, the health minister, stated that the spirit of the rules was the same regardless of how technically the rules had been broken. After Ms Gray’s report on the events has been published, she stated that she would “consider what actions are necessary”.
Desmond Swayne, a former minister, warned Ms Gray that she cannot ‘get out jail free’ with her investigation. He emphasized the legal definition of lockdown violations.
Sir Desmond stated, “If this is indeed the Monopoly get out of prison free card,’ I worry it won’t work because the distinction between guidance and regulation was never made clear to the public’s minds in the first instance.”
“As far they are concerned, it seems like one rule applies to us and another for everybody else.”
Dominic Cummings claimed that Boris Johnson (left), was told about the Downing Street “BYOB” event by Dominic Raab before it occurred in May 2020. Boris Johnson has refuted these claims. Dominic Raab, the deputy to Mr Johnson (right), called Cummings’ latest claims ‘nonsense’ in a series of interviews.
Yesterday night, Cummings posted on Substack that worse may still be in store for No10.
Cummings stated that Mr Cummings and “other eyewitnesses” who had been discussing the topic at the time would swear to what transpired.
Another two ministers of Johnson (left George Freeman and right Maria Caulfield), have spoken out against No10 in relation to Partygate. They warned the scandals had caused’serious harm’ to public confidence in the government
In a Monday post, Mr Cummings said that No10 might be in worse shape than he thought.
It comes after Mr Cummings suggested in a post on his Substack blog yesterday that worse might still be to come for No10.
“Amidst discussion about the future of Simon Case, the Cabinet Secretary, and PPS (Reynolds), which was going on for many days, I said something to the PM like this: “Martin’s invited building to a drinks party. This is what I am talking about. You’ve got get to grasp this madhouse ”,’,” he wrote.
“The PM ignored it.” I told him several times that the PPS must be replaced. He also had to tell other officials competent in the matter who understood the need for a major overhaul of management and personnel.
He said, “Not only me, but also other eyewitnesses that discussed it at the time, would swear under oath that this is what actually happened.”
Downing Street denies the allegations, and a spokesperson stated that: ‘It is not true that the Prime Minister had been warned about it in advance.
“He believed that it was a work-related event, as he had said earlier this week.
“He has made an apology to the House. He is also committed to make a second statement when the investigation is over.”
Yesterday’s survey from Redfield Strategies and Wilton Strategies showed Labour at 43%, an increase of four per week. Meanwhile, the Tories were at 30%, five points lower.
The PM was warned by Mr Cummings that more trouble could come.
He said, “There are many more photos of parties that have not appeared since I left.” I’ll tell you more once the SG report is out.
After Martin Reynolds, Johnson’s principal private secretary invited over 100 staff members to an informal ‘bring your booze’ party in No 10, Garden in May 2020 at the lockdown’, Johnson had to apologize.
While the PM said he only attended 25 minutes in order to “thank” staff, he maintained that it was a work event so technically, the rules could have allowed him to be there.
According to some reports, aides took a rolling suitcase with wheels and went out to buy booze from nearby shops.
The PM is now believed to have been grilled by top civil servant Sue Gray, who could deliver her report on the bewildering array of allegations about lockdown breaches in Whitehall within days – although it might not come until next week.
With crowd pleasing announcements about bringing in the military and tackling the Channel Migrant Crisis, the government has mobilized a massive effort to save Mr Johnson.
Rumours abound that he may be ready to fire some of his senior aides to ban alcohol from Downing Street to boost his premiership.
However, the MPs reported that voters were dumping a lot of rubbish on their doorsteps.
Sir Desmond wrote on his blog that he received “huge correspondence” on the subject. He said he opposed most regulations.
“The primary problem was confusion between guidance and regulation.” He wrote that this even caused confusion among police officers. People were told not to do things they weren’t allowed to, despite being told by them.
Sue Gray will be investigating parties in Downing Street. She’ll focus her inquiry on that distinction between regulation, guidance, and the fact that Number 10 was a place where people work, not their homes, which is quite different from the norms.
If it does turn out that this is the Monopoly “get out of prison free card”, I am afraid it won’t work because the difference between guidance and regulation was not made clear to the public.
“As far they are concerned, it seems like one rule applies to us and another for everybody else.
Sir Desmond warned that there was a danger to the PM if Sue Gray’s investigation found no evidence.
MailOnline heard yesterday from a Northern MP saying that voter response was terrible, worse than in the Barnard Castle row which involved Dominic Cummings.
“It was worse because he broke the rules he made himself and instructed everyone to follow. He is free to launch again, ignore reports or do anything he likes. “The public has made up their mind,” the Tory MP stated.
Sue Gray, a senior civil servant (right), has questioned Boris Johnson about the Partygate claims that rocked Tory parties in the recent weeks.
Hitehall seems to be already bracing himself for the findings of Ms Gray, and the Prime Minister launched a pre-emptive “policy blitz” to counter the worst crisis that he’s faced since assuming office in 2019. Pictured is one of the ‘illicit Parties’ that were held at Downing Street Gardens, May 17, 2020
Another stated that they are getting grief from ‘a fair number of Tories’ and ‘just ordinary people who don’t talk politics but feel the need write to demand Boris’ resignation’. But they expressed optimism that things might be shifting to other stories.
The latest Partygate claims reveal that Johnson spoke at the leaving party of Captain Steve Higham (defence adviser) before Christmas 2020.
A spokesperson for the PM was also forced to refute extraordinary claims Mr Johnson made that he and his staff referred to Johnson as “big dogs”.
Dominic Cummings summarily dismissed a former assistant who was part of Downing Street’s long-standing drinking culture. People would booze at lunch and then ‘wake up’ in their clothes after falling on the sofas.
Sonia Khan noted the history of Government’s behaviour amid rising anger at Partygate. Boris Johnson might consider imposing an alcohol ban.
According to a former adviser, Downing Street may start drinking during lunchtime and end up wearing the same clothing when it wakes up from crashing on the sofa as part of long-standing drinking habits.
Sonia Khan spoke out about the historical behavior of Government in the face of signs that Boris Johnson may impose an alcohol ban as a way to calm rising anger over Partygate.
Ms Khan served in No10, the Treasury and during Theresa May’s premierships. After Boris Johnson became president but before the pandemic, she was summarily dismissed in a dispute with Dominic Cummings. Later, she settled an unfair dismissal case.
In an interview, she said drinking had long been ‘normalised’ in Downing Street.
She argued, however that her previous culture was “totally different” to those who were accused of having partyked while coronavirus was being dealt with by the government.
After Martin Reynolds invited over 100 staff members to an invitation to his private secretary Martin Johnson’s ‘bring your booze’ party at No10 garden during May 2020’s first lockdown, Johnson had to apologize.
While the PM admitted that he went, he said that it was a work function and therefore could have been considered legal.
According to some reports, aides took a rolling suitcase with wheels and went out to buy booze from nearby shops.
Ms Khan stated that drinking has been “normalized” in Downing Street for many years.
Ms Khan stated that these drinks sessions are often sandwiched among pieces of work. It feels very repetitive.
‘Drinks could start at lunch time, they could start a little bit later in the day – different teams do things very differently – but the idea of mini fridges or having drinks underneath your table wasn’t uncommon.’
Ms Khan explained that seniors at No.10, dating back to two decades ago, had drunk drinks in order to show appreciation for staff who worked’very long hours.
Asked if people had been so hungover they had slept on sofas in Downing Street, she said: ‘I did see a few instances of that – people waking up in the same clothes the next day.
“But, obviously, I wasn’t working during a pandemic. It didn’t happen very frequently back then,” I should add. I cannot speak for the current situation.
Ms Khan said: ‘Drinks in No 10 … feel like such a normalised thing so it doesn’t feel like anything out of the ordinary.
“A pandemic is a completely different situation and it’s possible to say with certainty that the people responsible should have been supervised, since they all are so intelligent and clever.
Before joining the Treasury, Ms Khan was a civil servant at No 10, under Mr Cameron. She then worked in special advice during Mrs May’s tenure.
While she was briefly in the Treasury when Mr Johnson took control, she was forced to leave Downing Street in force by armed officers after Dominic Cummings fired her in August 2019. Dominic Cummings had accused her of leakage.
She settled later a case against the Government over unfair dismissal.
Today, Mr Cummings retorted on Twitter by insisting that there is no alcohol culture at No10 in 2020. He also accused Ms Khan as being a useful idiot to help Mr Johnson.
Meanwhile, Tories have warned Boris Johnson his ‘Operation Red Meat’ policy blitz might not be enough to save his bacon as even ministers hesitated about saying he is ‘safe’.
The PM is now believed to have been grilled by top civil servant Sue Gray, who could deliver her report on the bewildering array of allegations about lockdown breaches in Whitehall within days.
With crowd pleasing announcements about bringing in the military and tackling the Channel migrant crisis, the government is gearing up to save Mr Johnson.
Rumours abound that he may be ready to fire some of his senior aides to ban alcohol from Downing Street to boost his premiership.
This morning Education Secretary Nadhim Zhawi said that Johnson feels the pain of the people because of apparent violations of restrictions.
His argument was that Johnson was “human” and he had apologized for making a’mistake’ in May 2020 by attending a social function. However, Mr Zahawi was asked 3 times by BBC Radio 4’s Today program before he said that the Premier was safe in his position.
Boris Johnson, pictured this morning running, is thought to have been interviewed by Sue Gray (top civil servant), who may deliver her report within days on the myriad of accusations about Whitehall lockdown breaches.
Today, Mr Cummings retorted on Twitter by insisting that there is no alcohol culture at No10 in 2020. He also accused Ms Khan as being a useful idiot to help Mr Johnson maintain his position.
A number of MPs returned to their constituencies, reporting that voters had abused them on the doorsteps and in their mailbags. MailOnline was told by a Northern MP that they received a terrible response, worse than the Barnard Castle row with Mr Cummings.
“It was worse because he broke the rules he made himself and instructed everyone to follow. He is free to launch again, hide behind reports or do anything he likes. “The public has made up their mind,” the Tory MP stated.
One person said that they had been getting upset from “a lot of Tories” and “just ordinary people who don’t speak up about politics, but feel the need to send a letter to tell Boris to quit.” But they expressed optimism that things might be shifting to other stories.