Here is what the Prime Minister said in response to the demands that were made.
May 15, 2020: Garden party in Downing Street (cheese and wine)
In December 2021, a photo emerged showing Boris and Carrie Johnson, former chief adviser Dominic Cummings, and Mr Johnson’s principal private secretary Martin Reynolds sitting around a table in No 10 Garden during the first nationwide lockdown.
Mr Johnson said in an interview on December 20, 2021: ‘These were meetings of people at work. This is where I live and this is where I work. They were meetings of people at work, who talked about work.
May 20, 2020: Garden party in Downing Street (BYOB)
An email, leaked to ITV, from Mr Reynolds to more than 100 Downing Street workers asking them to ‘bring your own alcohol’ to a party.
The Prime Minister admitted attending for 25 minutes but insisted he thought the rally was a work event, while No 10 said Mr Johnson was unaware of the event in advance.
But his former chief assistant, Dominic Cummings, said that was not true, and he warned it was against the rules.
Mr Johnson said during a visit to Finchley Memorial Hospital, north London: “I want to start by repeating my apologies to everyone for the errors of judgment that I have made, that we may have committed at No 10 and beyond, whether in Downing Street or throughout the pandemic.
“No one told me that what we were doing was against the rules, that the event in question was something that … was not a work event, and as I said in the House of Commons, when i walked out in this garden i thought i was attending a business event.
On February 20, 2022, he told the BBC’s Sunday morning show: “You’re going to have to wait for the (police investigation) process to be completed – there’s literally not a bean I can tell you at this subject, as much as I would like.’
November 13, 2020: Departure party for Johnson’s main assist and flat party
According to reports at the time, Mr Johnson gave a parting speech for Lee Cain, his outgoing communications director and close ally of Mr Cummings.
There were also allegations that the Prime Minister’s then-fiancée, now wife, hosted parties at the couple’s flat at No 11, one such event was said to have taken place on November 13, 2020, the night where Mr Cummings left No 10.
Mr Johnson told the Commons on December 8, 2021: ‘I am sure that whatever happened the guidelines were followed and the rules were followed at all times.’
It was then reported in February 2022 that PM was seen walking towards his flat on the night in question. The Prime Minister repeatedly refused to say if he was there.
December 15, 2020: Downing Street Quiz
The Sunday Mirror published an image in December 2021 showing the Prime Minister flanked by colleagues, one draped in tinsel and the other wearing a Santa hat, in issue 10 of the previous year.
Downing Street admitted Mr Johnson attended the quiz ‘briefly’ after photographic evidence emerged, but insisted it was a virtual event.
In an interview on December 13, 2021, the Prime Minister said: “I can tell you that I certainly haven’t broken any rules – everything will be scrutinized by the Cabinet Secretary, and what I’m focusing on, frankly, is is the vaccine come out.’
On February 9, 2022, during Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQ), Mr Johnson was challenged by Labor MP Fabian Hamilton, who said the image appeared to show ‘one of the Christmas parties he told us that it had never taken place”.
He added: ‘Will the Prime Minister refer this party to the police as it is not one of those currently under investigation?’
Mr Johnson replied: “In what he has just said, I fear he is completely wrong.”
Asked again at PMQs, Mr Johnson added: ‘This event has already been submitted for investigation.
December 18, 2020: Christmas Party in Downing Street
According to reports that first emerged in late November 2021, officials and advisers gave speeches, enjoyed a cheese platter, drank together and exchanged secret Santa Claus gifts – although the Prime Minister was not believed to have been there. attended.
Mr Johnson said in an interview on December 7, 2021: ‘I made sure the guidelines were followed at all times.
He told the House of Commons the next day: ‘I repeat that I have been assured on several occasions since these allegations emerged that there was no party and no Covid rules had been violated.” This is what I have been assured many times.
The Prime Minister added: ‘I apologize for the impression that has been given that Downing Street staff are taking this less seriously. I myself am sickened and furious about this, but I repeat what I told him: I was repeatedly assured that the rules were not broken.
April 16, 2021: Holidays start the day before the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral
The Telegraph reported that advisers and officials gathered after work for two separate events on April 16, 2021, as the country mourned the death of the Duke of Edinburgh.
One was for former Downing Street communications director James Slack, and the second was for a photographer, and they were then said to have merged.
The newspaper said No 10 staff partied into the early hours of the morning in a seven-hour session.
Wine and spirits with mixers were reportedly served in disposable plastic cups and at one point alcohol was reportedly spilled on an office printer.
Take-out pizzas were reportedly ordered and some of the revelers reportedly used a slide belonging to Mr and Mrs Johnson’s son, Wilfred.
The following day, the Queen sat alone, socially distant from her family, as she said goodbye to her husband.
No 10 previously said an apology had been issued at Buckingham Palace.
Mr Johnson said: ‘I deeply and bitterly regret that this happened.
He added: “I can only renew my apologies to both Her Majesty and the country for the errors of judgment that have been made and for which I take full responsibility.”
Here is what Chancellor Rishi Sunak said four times about partygate:
December 7, 2021:
Speaking during a Treasury Questions session in the House of Commons, Mr Sunak denied attending any parties when asked if he was at reported Christmas gatherings in December 2020.
Labor MP Karl Turner (Kingston upon Hull East) had asked: ‘The Chancellor was noncommittal when interviewed by the media last week, but we need a clear answer on this very important point because many people across the country have made great personal sacrifices during the lockdown.
‘So will the Chancellor categorically deny to the House that he or any of his officials or spads (special advisers) attended any of the Downing Street Christmas parties on 27th November or 18th December last year?”
Mr Sunak replied: “No, I did not attend any parties.”
January 18, 2022:
The Chancellor abruptly ended an interview when asked if he would give the prime minister his full support. At the time, six Tory MPs publicly called on Mr Johnson to leave.
In his first interview since Mr Johnson apologized to MPs over the scandal, the Chancellor said he accepted Mr Johnson’s explanation that he had not been given advance notice of a No. 10 during lockdown in May 2020.
‘Yes of course. The Prime Minister outlined his understanding of this issue last week in Parliament. I refer you to his words,” he told broadcasters.
“Sue Gray is investigating this matter and I fully support the Prime Minister’s pleas for patience while this is completed.”
Asked if the prime minister should resign if he lied to parliament, Mr Sunak replied: “I’m not going to speculate, the ministerial code is clear on these matters.”
Pressed on whether Mr Johnson had his unequivocal support, Mr Sunak quickly cut off the interview, walking away with a microphone still attached.
February 3, 2022:
The Chancellor admitted he was in the Cabinet Room when No 10 staff held a birthday meeting for Boris Johnson on June 19, 2020.
Mr Sunak told the BBC he had been there for a meeting to discuss the Covid-19 situation.
“I’m in the cabinet room for a Covid meeting much like the other 100, 200, God knows how many other Covid meetings,” he said.
“You are asking me about something that happened almost two years ago. I went to this Cabinet room, as I have done many other times for Covid meetings. And it is right that we allow this police investigation.
The Chancellor also acknowledged that the government needed to rebuild public trust following revelations about parties during the lockdown.
“I can understand people’s frustration. And I think it’s now the job of all of us in government, all politicians, to restore people’s trust,” he said.
February 11, 2022:
Mr Sunak told Sky News he had not received a questionnaire from the Met Police at the time and, when asked if he expected to receive a form to fill in, he said replied, “No… well, I don’t know.”
He also answered ‘no’ when asked if he thought he had broken the lockdown rules.
Pressed on whether he still had faith in Mr Johnson, the Chancellor added: ‘The Prime Minister has my full backing.
