BORIS Johnson is “taking people for mugs” by refusing to say whether or not there was a party in No 10 Downing Street last December, in the run-up to Christmas when London was under Tier 3 restrictions, the SNP’s Westminster leader has said.
And Ian Blackford told The National there had to be a “thorough” investigation, involving the police if necessary.
He was speaking after the Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab gave a less than convincing performance on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, during which he denied knowing if there had been a party because “I wasn’t there”.
However, if such a gathering had taken place it would be “contrary to the guidance”.
Blackford, who said he had watched Raab’s interview “with incredulity”, said people deserved to be told the truth.
“We can’t have one rule for Boris Johnson and his cohorts and one rule for everybody else in the country,” he said.
READ MORE: Kirsty Strickland: How many times can the Tories play the public for fools?
“The cagey response from the Tories, trying to avoid accepting any wrongdoing is contemptible – and it won’t wash. People have made some of the most devastating sacrifices over the last two years, many watching their loved ones suffering from Covid and in some cases dying, with the Prime Minister and his staff seeming to believe that they could carry on regardless.
“The least they deserve and expect is the same of politicians asking them to do so.
“If any rules were broken, there must be a thorough investigation and, if necessary, there needs to be police involvement in this.
“It is important that people are told the truth as to what was happening in Downing Street at a time that they were adhering to the rules.
“The Prime Minister has to come clean about this whole affair.”
Under the Tier 3 restrictions in force in London at the time of the alleged Downing Street bash, no mixing was allowed with other people indoors, apart from within a household or bubble, but up to six people could meet outside in public parks or playgrounds.
Bars and restaurants were closed except for takeaways, and theatres, cinemas, nightclubs and casinos were all shut.
Until now, Johnson has not denied reports that members of his Downing Street team staged a party on December 18, but oddly insisted that no rules were broken.
However, during a grilling by Andrew Marr, Raab (above) was far from convincing, saying he did not know the truth of the reports based on “unsubstantiated claims all on the basis of anonymous sources”, but if they turned out to be correct, then there would have been a breach.
Marr said the BBC had spoken to “serious sources who said there was drink and food and party games”, but Raab responded: “They’re unsubstantiated … you’ve pointed to rather caveated set of guidance which we all look at and work out how to balance, and the PM has been very clear – no rules were broken.”
Raab was again pressed on the veracity of the various sources, and asked again if the party had taken place.
He replied: “I don’t know because I wasn’t there. What I know is what you’ve got from all the sources you refer to, unsubstantiated claims being made and all on the basis of anonymous sources.
“Until there is something substantiated, until it is more than anonymous sources, I think we are chasing shadows ... Of course, if there was a formal party held, of course that it something that is clearly contrary to the guidance.”
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