Keir Starmer has described Boris Johnson’s conduct during the lockdown parties in Downing Street as “lower than a snake’s belly”.
As Boris Johnson delivered a “humble apology” in the Commons the Labour leader turned on the Prime Minister and the Tory MPs who still support him.
As MPs debated the Sue Gray findings Starmer told the Commons: “This report will start a monument to the hubris and arrogance of a government that believed it was one rule for them and another rule for everyone else.
“Even now, after 126 fines, they think it’s everyone else’s fault. They expect others to take the blame whilst they cling on. They pretend that the Prime Minister has somehow been exonerated, as if the fact that he only broke the law once is worthy of praise.
“The truth is they set the bar for his conduct lower than a snake’s belly and now they expect the rest of us to congratulate him as he stumbles over it.”
Starmer told MPs: “It is now impossible to defend the Prime Minister’s words to this House. This is about trust.
“Because during that May 20 press conference, the British public were told normal life as we know it is a long way off. But that wasn’t the case in Number 10.”
Ian Blackford, the SNP Westminster leader said “senior leadership” political and official must bear responsibility for the culture that led to the rule-breaking parties.
He told the Commons: “A fish rots from the head down.
"The Prime Minister’s despatch box denial of a party taking place on the 30th of November is now proven to be untrue. He was there on the 30th of November photograph, raising a toast surrounded by gin, wine and other rounds.
"The charge of misleading Parliament as a resignation matter. Will the Prime Minister now finally resign?”
But Johnson showed no sign of considering resignation saying he had “no knowledge” of some of the lockdown events and has been “surprised and disappointed” by the revelations that have unfolded.
He turned defence into attack accusing “Sir Beer Korma” of failing to hold himself to the same high standards over the beer and curry lockdown breach claims against him.
As the debate continued one Tory MP, Tobias Ellwood, the chair of the Commons defence committee, said Sue Gray had produced a damning report.
He asked how long Tory colleagues are willing to defend Johnson while being heckled by Tory loyalists.
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