Boris Johnson’s former aide says the Prime Minister “lied to Parliament” over a Downing Street Party and witnesses to the alleged party would “swear under oath” that he did.
Dominic Cummings made the revelations on his blog. The Prime Minister continues to insist that he believed the ‘Bring Your Own Bottle’ event at number 10 at the height of lockdown on May 20, 2020 was a work event, although he apologised to Parliament in the Commons that the event took place under his watch.
Cummings said he asked Johnson about the “drinks party” and referred to number 10 as a “madhouse” - which he said the Prime Minister brushed aside.
Number 10 vehemently denies the claims. Since an email emerged relating to an event on May 20, 2020, other similar events at the Prime Minister’s base have come to light including regular events allegedly nicknamed “wine time Fridays”. An internal investigation by civil servant Sue Gray remains under way.
Relating to May 20, 2020 Mr Cummings said a “very senior official” replied to top aide Martin Reynolds’ email, inviting 100 staff to the party, “saying the invite broke the rules”.
Mr Cummings added he personally told Mr Johnson “something like ‘Martin’s invited the building to a drinks party, this is what I’m talking about, you’ve got to grip this madhouse’.
"The PM waved it aside.”
Writing on his Substack blog, Mr Cummings added: “I told the PPS [Mr Reynolds] the invite broke the rules.
“He said: so long as it’s socially distanced I think it’s OK, I’ll check with the PM if he’s happy for it to go ahead.”
Mr Cummings said he was “sure” Mr Reynolds did later check with the Prime Minister - though accepted it was possible he presented it privately as a work event.
No10 has insisted Mr Johnson did not receive Mr Reynolds’ e-mail, which told staff to “enjoy the lovely weather ” and “bring your own booze!”
The Prime Minister’s spokesman said today: “Those claims of being forewarned are not true, as we made clear over the weekend.”
Senior civil servant Sue Gray is set to deliver a crucial ‘fact-finding’ report this week or next week.
While it cannot recommend disciplining the PM - because he’s in charge of his own punishment - if it spells out that he misled MPs he could face a Tory leadership challenge.
The Lib Dems have tabled a no confidence motion in the PM, and a fresh poll today by Redfield and Wilton Strategies put Labour 13 points ahead of the Tories - on 43% to 30%.
The PM admitted attending a party for 25 minutes on May 20, 2020. He claimed he thought it was a work meeting, despite long tables with snacks. It is one of a string of parties held during lockdown rules.
He told MPs: “When I went into that garden just after 6pm on 20 May 2020, to thank groups of staff before going back into my office 25 minutes later to continue working, I believed implicitly that this was a work event.
“But with hindsight, I should have sent everyone back inside. I should have found some other way to thank them.”
But according to the Sunday Times, a former No10 staffer believed “at least two people” told the Prime Minister it was “a party” and "should be immediately cancelled".
Well-connected columnist Dominic Lawson, who aired the claims, wrote: “I was told that Johnson's dismissive response was to say they were ‘overreacting’.”
Mr Lawson also claimed Mr Johnson praised his principal private secretary Martin Reynolds - who faces the sack after inviting 100 staff to “enjoy the lovely weather ” and “bring your own booze” - as “my loyal Labrador”.
A No10 spokeswoman hit back at the claims, saying: “It is untrue that the Prime Minister was warned about the event in advance.
“As he said earlier this week he believed implicitly that this was a work event. He has apologised to the House and is committed to making a further statement once the investigation concludes.”
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