Ed Miliband has been praised for a sustained takedown of Boris Johnson and the government over the latest party revelation.
Appearing on various media channels this morning, the former leader of the Labour Party slammed Johnson over his alleged involvement in the party that took place on 20th May 2020 while the country obeyed strict lockdown rules, and said he was presiding over a “rotten culture”.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4 this morning, he called the revelations “incredibly damning” and said the party was “clearly the most flagrant violation of the rules.”
“It’s all very well that we are having Sue Gray’s inquiry,” he said. “But the prime minister cannot run, and he cannot hide.”
"The Prime Minister cannot run and he cannot hide"
— BBC Radio 4 Today (@BBCr4today) January 11, 2022
Ed Miliband tells @Marthakearney that a leaked email inviting staff to drinks in the Downing Street garden in May 2020 shows 'a rotten culture at the heart of this government'https://t.co/xSN2xVO7CQ #R4Today pic.twitter.com/KZIQnhhSYK
He added: “It speaks to a rotten culture at the heart of this government and the rotten culture begins with the person in charge.”
Sign up to our new free Indy100 weekly newsletter
It comes amid allegations that the PM was one of the attendees at a “bring-your-own-booze’ event in the Number 10 garden at the height of lockdown one in May 2020 in which staff made “the most of the lovely weather”.
A leaked email obtained by ITV News was sent by Boris Johnson’s principal private secretary Martin Reynolds to more than 100 employees in May 2020 at a time in which people could only meet one on one outside.
It said: “Hi all, after what has been an incredibly busy period it would be nice to make the most of the lovely weather and have some socially distanced drinks in the No10 garden this evening.
“Please join us from 6pm and bring your own booze!”
ITV News claim around 40 people showed up including the PM and his wife Carrie Johnson but when Johnson was asked on Monday if he and his wife attended the party on 20 May, he replied: “All that, as you know, is the subject of a proper investigation by Sue Gray.”
Downing Street also told ITV News they would not comment on the story due to the Sue Gray inquiry.
But speaking to Sky News’ Kay Burley, Miliband said that it would be “completely reprehensible” if Johnson attended the party and it would make his position “very difficult”.
You'll want the sound on for this one 🔈🚨
— Kay Burley (@KayBurley) January 11, 2022
Labour's @Ed_Miliband is "lost for words" at the "arrogance" of @BorisJohnson #partygate 👀👇#KayBurley FM pic.twitter.com/ieQgsjXuAv
“How can he lead the country through these difficult times... if he has so flagrantly breached the rules?” he said.
“He knows if he went to the party or not. He doesn’t need Sue Gray, the person in charge of the inquiry, to tell him if he went to the party.
“I couldn’t imagine presiding over a culture of such rule breaking and such arrogance. It’s such arrogance of power that this speaks to”.
Reacting to his various interventions, people were quick to praise the former leader of the Labour Party for his pithy analysis:
Ed on 🔥 doing the news rounds this am.
— fattyboom50🇪🇺 💙🌈🔥🇬🇧🇦🇺🇯🇲 (@maxbabeyeah) January 11, 2022
Let’s hear it for @Ed_Miliband 👏👏👏👏👏👍👍👍 #r4today
— OrrewingS 🇪🇺 #FBPE (@worthyshan) January 11, 2022
Exactly right @Ed_Miliband https://t.co/5hCVtUvmJ9
— Jo Stevens (@JoStevensLabour) January 11, 2022
The crystal clear incredulity that is making the ordinarily articulate @Ed_Miliband struggle for words on Sky News really sums up how I feel about this party. The arrogance; the contempt; the deceit - and now seemingly hiding behind Sue Gray, hoping it will all go away. Cowards.
— James Mitchinson (@JayMitchinson) January 11, 2022
Is it too late to vote for chaos with Ed Miliband?
— Barnaby Edwards (@BarnabyEdwards) January 10, 2022
Who knew that the real choice all along was chaos with Ed Miliband or canapes with Boris Johnson?
