The Prime Minister was called 'a man without shame' by Labour leader Keir Starmer after he addressed the House of Commons on the Partygate row today (April 19). Boris Johnson addressed Parliament after he received a fine from the police for illegally attending his birthday party, which was held in Downing Street on June 19, 2020.
He apologised 'unreservedly' for breaking the laws on gatherings which were set by his government to stop the spread of the highly contagious Covid-19 virus. He said: "As soon as I received the notice I acknowledged the hurt and the anger and I said that people had a right to expect better of their Prime Minister."
However, Starmer said the apology was "a joke" and called on him to resign. The leader of the opposition told the story of one of his constituents, John Robinson, who followed the rules when his wife was dying and was unable to visit her in hospital.
Read more: Boris Johnson partygate defence live: PM addresses nation following fine - updates
Starmer said: "After months of insulting excuses, today's half-hearted apology will never be enough for John Robinson. If the Prime Minister had any respect for John and the millions like him who sacrificed everything to follow the rules, he'd resign. But he won't, because he doesn't respect John, he doesn't respect the sacrifice of the British public. He's a man without shame."
The Prime Minister has previously denied that any parties were held in Downing Street. When reports emerged that there had been a party on December 18, 2020, Johnson told the House of Commons that all guidance "was followed completely in Number 10."
Johnson addressed this discrepancy in the Commons today in regards to the birthday party for which he has been fined, and said: "It did not occur to me then or subsequently that a gathering in the cabinet room just before a vital meeting on Covid strategy would amount to a breach of the rules. I repeat, that was my mistake and I apologise for it unreservedly. I respect the outcome of the police investigation."
But Starmer said that it was the duty of the Conservative MPs to oust Johnson as PM. He said that even though there were a few "nodding dogs" who would back the PM, the majority of the MPs should put their consciences and the country first, and they should "bring an end to this shameful chapter".
Starmer repeatedly referred back to the story of John, whose wife died during the pandemic. He said: "He would have given the world to hold his dying wife's hand, even if it was just for nine minutes, but he didn't because he followed the PM's rules, rules we now know the PM ignored."
