By Ben Kerrigan-
Labour opposition leader, Keir Starmer, Boris Johnson must resign as prime minister over “widespread criminality” in Downing Street during lockdown, Sir Keir Starmer has said.
Labour leader Sir Keir accused Mr Johnson of misleading MPs when he previously said no rules had been broken, and pushed for the prime minister’s resignation, as he was doing when news of partygate first broke out. The Commons echoed to Labour calls of “resign” as Starmer read the rap sheet against the Tory leader at Prime Minister’s Questions.
Starmer said: “He told the House no rules were broken in Downing Street during lockdown.”
“The police have now concluded there was widespread criminality.”
“The ministerial code says that ministers who knowingly misled the house should resign. Why is he still here?”
Starmer said there are only two possible explanations – either he’s trashing the ministerial code or he’s claiming he was repeatedly lied to by his own advisers, that he didn’t know what was going on in his own house and his own office. Come off it.”
“That he can keep raising taxes and call himself a tax-cutter. That he can hike tax during a cost of living crisis and get credit for giving a bit back just before an election.
“When is he going to stop taking the British public for fools?”
Starmer linked the PM’s denials on partygate with the Tory claim to be a tax-cutting government.
The Labour leader said: “He really does think it’s one rule for him and another rule for everyone else, that he can pass off criminality in his office and ask others to follow the law.”
Mr Johnson said the police must be allowed to get on with their investigations.
In the meantime, he added, “we are getting on with our job,” which he said was tackling cost of living pressures and energy supplies.
Johnson is not believed to have been fined by cops , but quizzed about it later at a Commons committee, he said: “I am sure you would know if I were.”
Deputy Dominic Raab saying earlier that it was clear that the law had been broken and that Mr Johnson “accepts responsibility” for what happened.
Boris Johnson: “I won’t giving running commentary on an ongoing investigation.”
At Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr Johnson faced shouts of “resign” from opposition MPs, as he was quizzed about Partygate.
Sir Keir Starmer said: “He told the House no rules were broken in Downing Street during lockdown. The police have now concluded there was widespread criminality.
“The ministerial code says that ministers who knowingly mislead the House should resign. Why’s he still here?”
Mr Johnson replied: “Hang on a minute, we do at least expect some consistency from this human weathervane – it was only a week or so ago he was saying that I shouldn’t resign. What is his position?”
At Prime Minister’s Questions, Sir Keir said the PM was either “trashing the ministerial code or he’s claiming he was repeatedly lied to by his own advisers, that he didn’t know what was going on in his own house and his own office”.
He added: “Come off it. He really does think it’s one rule for him and another rule for everyone else, that he can pass off criminality in his office and ask others to follow the law.”
The two party leaders also clashed over Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s mini-Budget, which Sir Keir called “utterly cynical” by increasing the overall tax burden now but offering a “small” tax cut before the next election.
Mr Johnson insisted Mr Sunak’s changes to National Insurance thresholds and a cut to fuel duty added up to a tax cut for most workers.
“It was only a week or so ago you were saying I shouldn’t resign. What is his position?”