By Ben Kerrigan-
Boris Johnson insisted he won’t resign, as he faced MPs at Prime Minister’s Questions as a highly-anticipated report into alleged lockdown-busting ‘parties’ could be published today.
Mr Johnson has been caught up in a controversy after a string of claims about events held at Downing Street during England lockdowns came to light, some of which are being investigated by the Met Police.
A highly awaited report by senior civil servant Sue Gray is due to been completed anytime soon and is to be submitted to No 10.
Some Conservative MPs have publicly called for Mr Johnson’s resignation, but others have said they will await the publication of the Gray report before trying to trigger a vote of no confidence.
Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg said the modern precedent was for a new incumbent in Downing Street to go to the polls to seek a fresh mandate, however, the prime minister has said he will continue.
Johnson was accused by opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer of changing his story over the gatherings and misleading parliament, an offence which the prime minister agreed should trigger a resignation.
Asked if he would step down, Johnson replied: “No.”
“I don’t deny it, and for all sorts of reasons, many people may want me out of the way, but the reason why he (Starmer) wants me out of the way is because he knows this government can be trusted to deliver,” he said to cheers from his Conservative lawmakers.
“We’ve taken the tough decisions, we’ve got the big calls right and we’re and in particular I am getting on with the job.”
In response to a question from Sky news, Conservative Mp, Andrew Rosindell, explained that many people break the law in “small ways” and the PM had not “robbed a bank”.
He said: “No of course it’s not and I’m sure there will be ministers who get parking tickets and speeding fines too, they break the law.
“Lots of people break the law in small ways, sometimes unintentionally.
“And I just think, he’s not robbed a bank.”.
Last night, The Mirror reported that Bournemouth West MP Conor Burns claimed Mr Johnson had been “ambushed by cake” after details of a birthday celebration in Downing Street emerged.
Yesterday, Met Police chief Dame Cressida Dick also confirmed officers would look into “a number of events” where Covid lockdown rules were reportedly broken.
One of Boris Johnson’s closest allies has faced a wave of mockery after stating the prime minister was “ambushed with a cake” during a lockdown “birthday bash” in Downing Street.
Senior Tories, opposition MPs and even celebrity chefs rounded on Northern Ireland minister Conor Burns on Wednesday after he said Mr Johnson had not been involved in a “premeditated” party in No10.
He told Channel 4 News, on Tuesday evening, that the PM was working in the Cabinet Room on June 19 2020 before staff came in and presented him with a birthday cake.
“It was not a premeditated, organized party,” the MP for Bournemouth West said. “He was, in a sense, ambushed with a cake.”
Mr Johnson has apologised for attending a “bring-your-own-booze” event on in the No 10 garden 20 May 2020, during the first lockdown, saying he thought it was a “work event”.
Reports of a birthday party held for Mr Johnson in the Cabinet Room in June 2020 have also come to light this week.
Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick said on Tuesday that the force was looking into potential breaches of Covid laws at a number of events in government buildings since 2020.
Such investigations were carried out in cases of the “most serious and flagrant breach” of regulations, or when it was considered those involved “ought to have known that what they were doing was an offence”, she added.
During a heated Prime Minister’s Questions, Sir Keir told Mr Johnson he should quit and was “doing damage” to the UK’s reputation.
But Mr Johnson said he was “getting on with the job” and would stay on.