THE Prime Minister has been given the full backing of Scottish Secretary despite the publication of a damning report into the widespread culture of lawbreaking in Downing Street during lockdown.
Unionist-in-chief Alister Jack issued a statement backing Boris Johnson after his boss faced a gruelling dressing down from MPs in the Commons on Wednesday.
It comes after the publication of the Sue Gray report into parties in the corridors of power during lockdown.
Despite Gray’s report detailing widespread Covid rule-breaking and a culture of “excessive” drinking in No 10, which saw a rammy between staffers, one being sick and red wine splattered against a wall, Jack said the Prime Minister enjoyed his “full support”.
He said: “I understand that people are angry about what happened in Downing Street. The Prime Minister has apologised again today, and made clear that he takes full responsibility for what went on in No 10. Lessons have been learned and changes have been made within No 10.
"The Prime Minister has my full support. He is tackling the rising cost of living at home and leading the international response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“Now, we all need to get behind him and back him in dealing with these important issues.”
Johnson faced fury from opposition MPs following the publication of the Gray report – and some from his own party.
Ian Blackford, the SNP’s Westminster leader, said the Prime Minister had “orchestrated” parties and presided over a culture of “drinking and debauchery” in Downing Street.
Urging Johnson to resign, the SNP MP added: “The Prime Minister has apologised many times, not because he feels any genuine remorse, he still refuses to even admit that there were parties and that he presided over them.
“He apologised for one simple reason he got caught. The reality is no apology will ever be enough for the families of people who lost loved ones, for the families who followed the rules, who stayed at home, whilst their nearest and dearest to them were dying.”
Some Tory MPs defended the Prime Minister and a small number challenged him over the reports’ findings but most stayed silent.
Johnson believes he has been partially “vindicated” by the police investigation and the Gray report, despite receiving one fine for attending a party, because he had not received any fines for other gatherings he was found to have attended.
He will now be the subject of a probe by MPs on the Privileges Committee, which will investigate whether he lied to parliament about attending parties.
