year, whether he attended the party and they couldn t answer or rule it out. that is extraordinary and that begs more questions than it actually answers. ., begs more questions than it actually answers. . . , ., answers. there are a number of questions. answers. there are a number of questions, questions answers. there are a number of questions, questions about - answers. there are a number of. questions, questions about other gatherings that might have taken place and the prime minister importantly, perhaps, said he would hand over any information to the police? hand over any information to the olice? , , ., , hand over any information to the olice? , i. , ., police? yes, you might remember that dominic raab. police? yes, you might remember that dominic raab, the police? yes, you might remember that dominic raab, the justice police? yes, you might remember that dominic raab, the justice secretary, i dominic raab, thejustice secretary, when he was asked about the party said i
whether this expected announcement on covid restrictions today was a diversionary tactic? that is something we call it in the business, a dead cat bounce strategy, let s try and distract everybody with something else. and this would be a big announcement to tighten restrictions at this point. the other key question i guess, is whether the prime minister will have been found at any point to have misled parliament? misled parliament? yes, this is breachina misled parliament? yes, this is breaching what misled parliament? yes, this is breaching what we misled parliament? yes, this is breaching what we call - misled parliament? yes, this is breaching what we call the - breaching what we call the ministerial code. this issue about misleading parliament was raised by another conservative mp, roger gale, when he asked about what he made of a bbc interviewer earlier today about what has gone on over the past week in terms of the government and borisjohnson s own handling of this. he said
those commons exchanges took place. between the labour leader keir starmer and borisjohnson. between the labour leader keir starmerand borisjohnson. perhaps starmer and boris johnson. perhaps what starmer and borisjohnson. perhaps what was starmerand borisjohnson. perhaps what was more dangerous for the prime minister was the incoming fire that had already come from his own side before he took to the dispatch box, questions about what exactly happened on december the 18th last year. we have had a week of denials and non denials about a party that the bbc has on good authority, took place. it took place with wine, alcohol, food and there were party games. and still come as you have just said, the prime minister was told, he has been reassured by those at number ten, his advisers, that there was no party and no covid rules were broken. if there was a party then covid rules were broken, absolutely. because london, the capital was on lockdown. there wasn t supposed to be any social
downing street in the middle of the coronavirus lockdown. it follows a week of denials from the government that such a party had ever taken place. at the event, guests are reported to have enjoyed cheese and wine, and taken part in a secret santa and party games. london had moved into tier 3 restrictions that meant indoor social gatherings were banned and only six people could meet in outdoor public spaces. government guidance specifically banned work christmas lunches or parties. number 10 has insisted that no party took place and all rules were followed. it comes as whitehall sources told the bbc an announcement on tighter coronavirus restrictions could be imminent. my colleague, jo coburn, is in westminster. it is in westminster. was very lively and heated pmq but it was very lively and heated pmqs, but a lot of questions still for the prime minister? but a lot of questions still for the prime minister? yes, absolutely. i am standing prime minister? yes, absolutely. i am standing
them for fools and they were lied t0~ they them for fools and they were lied to. they are right, aren t they? the coronavirus booster vaccine campaign gets ramped up even further now anyone over a0 in england can now book theirjab. the new face of germany olaf scholz is sworn in as chancellor as angela merkel bows out after 16 years in office. and the worst possible start for england in the ashes series as australia claim a wicket with the first ball on their way to skittling england out. the prime minister, borisjohnson, has apologised for a video obtained by itv news showing his staffjoking about a christmas party last year at number 10