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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
National
Ross Millen

South Gloucestershire Tory MPs refuse to comment on PM party allegations

The Tory MPs situated within the Bristol region have refused to comment following the latest party gate scandal involving the Prime Minister.

Bristol Live approached Luke Hall, Chris Skidmore, Liam Fox and John Penrose earlier this week following the latest allegations of coronavirus breaches by Boris Johnson.

On June 19, 2020, it is alleged the Conservative party leader had a birthday party despite rules forbidding social gathering indoors at the time.

READ MORE: Southmead Hospital patient moved to hotel and 'left without care for over a week'

It is also alleged Boris Johnson’s wife, Carrie Johnson, helped organise the surprise get-together for him shortly after 2pm on June 19.

Up to 30 people are said to have attended the event which took place in the Cabinet Room, shortly after an official visit to a school in Hertfordshire carried out by the Tory leader.

It becomes the latest allegation of rule breaches by the Prime Minister after a series of separate incidents over the course of the pandemic have come to light in recent weeks.

We approached our local Tory MPs to get a reaction following the latest reports, but none of them were able to provide a response.

The MPs, who hold seats for Thornbury and Yate, Kingswood, North Somerset and Weston-super-Mare have all chosen to remain silent on the latest allegations.

A week before the reported birthday party, Boris Johnson addressed the country and asked them to stick to the guidance.

He said on June 10, 2020: “I urge everyone to continue to show restraint and respect the rules which are designed to keep us all safe.

“It’s only because of the restraint that everyone, you all have shown so far, that we are able to move gradually out of this lockdown

"It is emphatically not designed for people who don't qualify to start meeting inside other people's homes - that remains against the law."

Just nine days later he was allegedly in breach of his own issued rules and guidance.

A report by Sue Gray into the allegations is expected any day. It is not know how many of the alleged parties she will be investigating but there is speculation it could be as high as 17 seperate gatherings.

At Prime Minisiter's Questions on Wednesday (Jan 26) Boris Johnson said he would have to quit as PM if he is found to have misled the House Of Commons but was certain he had not.

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