was asked if the party had happened. what i know is that you've got, from all the sources you've referred to, unsubstantiated claims being made and all on the basis of anonymous sources. remember this was a party in number 10 and attended by number 10 staff. checking these claims would not be hard to do, then or now. next, another minister offered this defence. i don't even know if an event took place, but if it did, then no rules were broken. kit malthouse didn't know if it had happened, but if it had, it didn't break the rules. the prime minister's spokesman then went further. on monday, he insisted "there was not a party" at number 10. adding, "it's simply a statement of fact." then after the the itv video, he said, "there was no christmas party. covid rules have been followed at all times." again, no evidence was offered to back this up, and anger at the itv video was growing. jackie green's mum died from covid on the day of the december party. i think it's totally - reprehensible, actually. when i first saw it, _