not the only one. i think that former conservative supporters like me who have left the party have done it for three reasons, the first is the whole approach to covid, it has not been what we voted for. it has not been what we voted for. it has not been what we voted for. it has not been a conservative approach. they have been spending money like water, accruing massive debt, a00 billion across the whole economy. they have been refusing to let people exercise their personal responsibility, which i thought they would have done and instead try to take away liberties. the downing street parties are just the icing on the cake. it is the rank hypocrisy of having spent two years telling people to stay at home whilst they were having a bring your own bottle parties. were having a bring your own bottle arties. . , , parties. that is the interesting oint, parties. that is the interesting point. clearly parties. that is the interesting point, clearly there parties. that is the interesting po
gave his explanation. i believed implicitly that this was a work event. but, mr speaker, with hindsight, i should have sent everyone back inside. now, writing online, dominic cummings says: 0n the day of the event itself i said to the pm, something like, martin s invited the building to a drinks party. you ve got to grip this madhouse . going on to write, not only me, but other eyewitnesses who discussed this at the time, would swear under oath that this is what happened. number 10, though, says it is untrue that the prime minister was warned about the event in advance. do you have confidence in the prime minister? conservative mps have talked of anger among their constituents, at continued accusations of events which may have broken the rules, which most members of the public were following. a handful now say time s up for the prime minister, but most are waiting
that s the main suggestion from a new report. i ll explain what it could mean for you. he s back andy murray one of six brits in action at the australian open, where three years ago, he bid an emotionalfarewell, fearing his career was over. good morning. under clear skies we have some good views of the wolf moon. it is a frosty starter. some dense patchy fog. and some rain from the west. details later in the programme. good morning. it s tuesday, 18th of january. labour have accused the government of being in chaos, after the prime minister s former top aide said concerns about a gathering in the downing street garden during the first lockdown were waved aside. dominic cummings said he was prepared to swear under oath that mrjohnson knew it was a drinks party and not a work event, a claim denied by number 10. here s our political correspondent, jonathan blake.
intense speculation, theirs was confidence among some backbenchers that enough to submit a letter of no confidence on the prime minister could be achieved. the prime minister again denied that a drinks party at the downing street party was against lockdown restrictions in place at the time. on a hospital visit yesterday, boris johnson again apologised for parties in the downing street on the duke of adam s funeral. he said deeply and bitterly regretted that it happen. duke of adam. regretted that it happen. duke of adam. regretted that it happen. duke of adam. ~ ., , ., duke of adam. while nobody had told me that duke of adam. while nobody had told me that the duke of adam. while nobody had told me that the rules duke of adam. while nobody had told me that the rules i duke of adam. while nobody had told me that the rules i had - told me that the rules i had imposed on everyone else would be broken, i think that reveals you are in a difficult position and i think the pri
attending a work event. the chancellor was also facing questions for the first time since the prime minister s apology to the commons. do you believe the prime minister? of course do you believe the prime minister? of course i do you believe the prime minister? of course i do. the prime minister set out his understanding of this matter in parliament last week and i d refer you to his words. as you know, sue gray is conducting an inquiry into this matter and ifully support the prime minster s request for patients while that inquiry concludes. for patients while that inquiry concludes- for patients while that inquiry concludes. , concludes. the fresh claims come from dominic concludes. the fresh claims come from dominic cummings, - concludes. the fresh claims come from dominic cummings, the - concludes. the fresh claims come i from dominic cummings, the former aide to the prime minister now a government critic. writing online, he said that on the day of the event in may 2020, i sa