this is another stark intervention from dominic cummings, the latest of several which he has had on this saga, giving more detailed this time, fleshing out his version of the events of the run up to that eventin the events of the run up to that event in the downing street garden on the 20th of may 2020. he ran through the key claims that he has made there, giving more detail about who exactly raised concerns in the run up to the event and suggesting that he raised it himself with the prime minister as an example of why change was needed among senior staff in downing street, but he said boris johnson at the time waved it away. and so what he says can be summed up in a line towards the end of the blog post that he has made that the events of the 20th of may alone, never mind the string of other events, mean the prime minister lied to parliament about parties. that is a serious accusation and as you say downing street are offering a firm
to thejob but, more importantly, i think he s lost the confidence of the british public now with his lies, his deceit and his breaking of his own rules. some conservative mps say it is important to wait for the full report. we need to get to the bottom of this investigation, that s what sue gray is doing. and then if rules have been breached, people will have to suffer the consequences. meanwhile, the met police has said it s aware of the widespread reporting of alleged breaches at downing street on the 20th may and it s in contact with the cabinet office. helen catt, bbc news, westminster. our political correspondent, nick eardleyjoins me. there s going to be an urgent question on this today we understand ? that has been considerable pressure on at number 10 overnight entered into this morning to provide some answers to some questions about why this event was organised, about whether they accepted it broke covid
for those to be investigated. and i can confirm to the house, mr speaker, that this includes the allegations relating to the 15th and 20th may 2020. it will establish the facts, and if wrongdoing is established, there will be requisite disciplinary action taken. as with all internal investigations, if evidence emerges of what was potentially a criminal offence, the matter would be referred to the metropolitan police and the cabinet office s work may be paused. matters relating to the adherence of the law are, as ever, matters for the metropolitan police to investigate, and the cabinet office will liaise with them as appropriate. as i am sure members of this house will appreciate, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on an ongoing investigation and the government has committed to updating the house
in a public place, like a park, as long as you socially distanced. here is 0liver dowden, who was culture secretary at the time, at a coronavirus press conference on the 20th may just hours before the party reminding the public of the rules. you can spend time outdoors and exercise as often as you like and you can meet one person outside your household in an outdoor public place, provided that you stay two metres apart. 0liver dowden speaking before that event. let s speak now to health minister, edward argar. we wa nt we want to go over the e mail. which said after what has been a busy period, we thought it would be nice to make the most of the lovely weather and have some socially distanced drinks in the number 10 garden this evening. please join us from 6pm and bring your own booze.
we start in the uk. borisjohnson has faced many questions about whether covid rules were observed in downing street. it s understood around 30 people gathered for this event. labour has called on borisjohnson to call come clean. borisjohnson has faced many questions of about whether covid rules were observed. i can rules were observed. i can understand rules were observed. i can understand how rules were observed. i can| understand how infuriating rules were observed. i can i understand how infuriating it rules were observed. ice i understand how infuriating it must be to think that the people who have been setting the rules have not been following the rules. that was december 2021. 19 months earlier in may 2020, england was in its first lockdown. there were already over 30,000 covid deaths. 20th may was the hottest day of the year so far. and at 5pm, culture secretary 0liver dowden led the government s daily covid update and reiterated the rules. you can meet one person outsid