Embattled Boris Johnson furiously hit back at Sir John Major today after the former Prime Minister said Partygate had "shredded" Britain's reputation abroad.
Speaking in Warsaw as part of the Government's response to the Ukraine crisis, the Prime Minister said it was "demonstrably untrue" Downing Street's rule-busting lockdown gatherings had damaged the UK.
The PM has also refused to say whether he would resign if the Met Police rule he broke the law.
It comes after former Conservative premier Sir John said it is clear Boris Johnson broke Covid laws and warned he must quit if it's found he lied to Parliament.
Sir John attacked Mr Johnson's "foolish" behaviour, which he warned was undermining democracy, and said: “Deliberate lies to parliament have been fatal to political careers – and must always be so”.
In a speech to the Institute for Government, he said: "At No10, the Prime Minister and officials broke lockdown laws.
"Brazen excuses were dreamed up. Day after day the public was asked to believe the unbelievable."
The PM and wife Carrie are expected to be among some 50 people quizzed by Scotland Yard over rule-breaking gatherings in Downing Street and Whitehall during the pandemic.
But Mr Johnson refused to be drawn on whether he had been sent one of the forms, which the Met has cautioned have "legal force".
The PM was attempting to wind up an interview with broadcasters in Warsaw but returned to hit back at Sir John's central claim that Britain's international reputation was at stake, saying: “That is demonstrably untrue.”
Pressed on whether he had broken lockdown rules, the Tory Party leader said: “I’m going to have plenty to say on that in due course.”
Downing Street failed to reject the allegation that staff had broken lockdown laws.
The PM's deputy spokesman said: "You will be aware the PM is in Warsaw so I haven't spoken to him specifically about that but you have got what he said."
Pressed further on Sir John's comments, he added: "You've seen what the PM said when the Sue Gray report was published.
"He said he accepts Sue Gray's general findings in full and above all her recommendation we must learn from these events.
"The PM's taken responsibility and apologised for the things we didn't get right and for the way this matter has been handled.
"As you know there is an ongoing Met Police investigation so i can't comment any further."
Tory MPs are weighing up whether flood the 1922 committee with letters calling for a confidence vote.
Sir John also warned his colleagues: "The lack of trust in the elected portion of our democracy cannot be brushed aside.
"Parliament has a duty to correct this. If it does not, and trust is lost at home, our politics is broken."
In a scathing intervention, he added: "Trust in politics is at a low ebb, eroded by foolish behaviour, leaving a sense of unease about how our politics is being conducted.
"Too often, ministers have been evasive, and the truth has been optional."
In remarks apparently directed at Mr Johnson - who has repeatedly come under fire over his elastic relationship with the truth, he added: "Politicians are not “all the same."
