By Tony O’Riley-
Prime minister, Boris Johnson approved a “bring your own booze” event in May 2020 despite knowing it “broke the rules”, Dominic Cummings has said.
The prime minister’s former adviser apparently urged Mr Johnson at the time to cancel the event, but claims Johnson brushed his suggestion aside PM waved it aside.
Mr Cummings’ comments come as the partygate scandal continues to tarnish the image of the British government with one recent poll suggesting that Labour’s lead over the Tories has extended to 13 points.
The former adviser who lost his top job after he broke lcokdown rules vowed to swear under oath that the prime minister knowingly broke lockdown rules, and was aware he was attending a aprty against the rules.
Mr Cummings said he then challenged Mr Johnson himself, but claimed the prime minister was uninterested.
“I said to the PM something like, ‘Martin’s invited the building to a drinks party, this is what I’m talking about, you’ve got to grip this madhouse’,” he wrote. “The PM waved it aside.”
The fresh claims come in the midst of intense pressure by critics of Boris Johnson to get him out of office in the wake of the revelations which has rocked Downing Street.
Johnson has weathered many political storms in the past, but facing an almighty one this time.
He has urged the country to await the investigation of Sue Gray.
Asked about the accusations earlier, a No 10 spokesman said: “It is untrue that the prime minister was warned about the event in advance.
“As he said earlier this week he believed implicitly that this was a work event. He has apologised to the House and is committed to making a further statement once the investigation concludes.”
Conservative Steve Baker has said his constituents are “about 60 to one against the PM” amid the row over No 10 parties during the lockdown.
The MP said “rule-makers must obey the rules” but added he would wait for Sue Gray’s report before taking any action.
It comes as the PM’s former top aide claims Mr Johnson was warned about a drinks event on 20 May 2020.
No 10 has denied Dominic Cummings’s account, stating that the PM believed the event was work-related, although the prime minister admitted attending the gathering in the Downing Street garden.
He said he had stayed at the drinks for 25 minutes to thank staff for their hard work and had believed it to be a work gathering.
Johnson has apologized for the parties and admitted it was a bad look to see the rules broken by those who make the rules.
At the heart of many of those calling for the resignation of the prime minister is the question of whether he still has the moral authority to govern a country in which his government breaks the rules it makes.
Under fire: Prime minister Boris Johnson
Mr Baker’s comments come after his Conservative colleagues spent the weekend canvassing public opinion on the prime minister, with some reporting widespread anger with Boris Johnson.
Speaking outside Downing Street, Mr Baker told reporters: “My constituents at the moment are about 60 to one against the prime minister.
“I’ve listened very carefully to members of my [Conservative party] association, too. There are some very strident voices in my constituency demanding that I support the prime minister.
“What I would say is I made my view very clear at the beginning of December: that there must be one rule for all; that the rule-makers must obey the rules that they apply on others.”
out the email inviting 100 staff to “socially distanced drinks in the No 10 garden”, but “a very senior official replied by email saying the invite broke the rules”.
After discussing it in private, he claimed the PPS said he would “check with the PM if he’s happy for it to go ahead”, adding: “I am sure he did check with the PM.”
Mr Cummings said he then challenged Mr Johnson himself.
“I said to the PM something like, ‘Martin’s invited the building to a drinks party, this is what I’m talking about, you’ve got to grip this madhouse’,” he wrote. “The PM waved it aside.”
Asked about the accusations earlier, a No 10 spokesman said: “It is untrue that the prime minister was warned about the event in advance.
“As he said earlier this week he believed implicitly that this was a work event. He has apologized to the House and is committed to making a further statement once the investigation concludes.”