rationalisation, for example, the nature and event of the assurances he received. so, the committee looked at six events in total. that happened in downing street during the pandemic. that was where there was claims that the rules in place at the time had been broken. let s take one of those individually. as a case in point, the 20th of may 2020. it took place in the downing street garden where staff and officials were invited in what was described in an e mail by an official as drinks. 0n the 20th of may, 2020, there is evidence, they say, that senior number ten officials were concerned about the nature of the gathering and were reluctant for it to go ahead. they say that it was not. raised with mrjohnson at the time. he was there at a short period of time. the social nature was indicated by the high number of people invited, with some attendees from outside number ten as well as
mrjohnson s wife, who the committee say consider cannot be considered as an absolutely necessary participant the installation in the garden of trestle tables, and alcohol available. they say there is evidence of a number of people in attendance increased during the time mrjohnson was at the gathering. and, taking the language of the rules in place at the time of this, backin rules in place at the time of this, back in may 2020, it would have been, we know the gathering, they say, for it to have been combined with the rules, it would have had to have been essential for work purposes. they do not consider, the committee say, that the gathering was held purely for the purposes of raising morale as being essential for work purposes. moreover, they set out in further detail than they do not believe mrjohnson would have advised the public that this was the case had he been asked at the time. so, one example they are via the committee believes that mrjohnson s account of the events and rules
metropolitan police. borisjohnson was not in the commons himself. labour s deputy leader, angela rayner, told mps that his absence speaks volumes . the minister quite frankly hides behind the gray investigation. there is no need for an investigation into the simple central question today did the prime minister attend the event in the downing street garden on the 20th of may 2020? it won t wash, mr speaker, to blame this on a few junior civil servants. the prime minister sets the tone. if the prime minister was there, surely he knew. the invitation was sent to 100 staff. many of them his own most personal senior appointees. this was organised in advance, mr speaker, so did the prime minister know about the event beforehand and did he give his permission
a criminal offence, the matter would be referred to the metropolitan police. did the prime minister| attend the event in the downing street garden - on the 20th of may 2020? it won t wash, mr speaker, - to blame this on a fewjunior civil servants. the prime minister sets the tone. 0thers remembered the lives lost during the pandemic. 3000 people who followed the rules and. including my mother in law who died alone. and the pain of separation from loved ones. it is what has happened to lisa s family. her brother graham was in intensive care on the date the downing street party took place. he died a few days later but relatives could not be with him all grieve together. instead of holding my mum
to go. in the last few minutes, william rag has told our colleagues that mrjohnson s position is untenable and he he should go. the scottish conservatives appeared to be in open revolt as well as their leader, douglas ross. thing the prime minister had to go after admitting he was at that gathering in 2020. there are about ten nsp s who say they back mr ross. they think the prime minister needs to resign. here is douglas ross. i said yesterday if the prime minister attended this event, gathering, party whatever you call it on the 20th of may last year, if he was there after the invite went out to more than 100 people, inviting them to bring their own booze and come to the downing street garden, then he couldn t continue. that would ve been breaking the rules in place at the time. and today in the house of commons, he s accepted and admitted he was there.