Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
National
Kieran Doody

Boris Johnson hits out at Sky's Beth Rigby as Sue Gray report pressure mounts

Boris Johnson press conference sparks altercation with Sky News's Beth Rigby. (PA)

Boris Johnson snapped back at Sky News reporter Beth Rigby following his press conference in response to the bombshell Sue Gray report.

Sky’s political editor asked the Prime Minister whether he has considered resigning, given the accounts of excessive drinking, altercations and poor treatment of cleaners published in the report.

She said: “It’s your culture, under your leadership, did you never for a moment in the past five months or even this morning when that report landed on your desk and you read it blow by blow think about resigning?

“A poll out today says three in five Britons think that you should.”

When Beth Rigby pushed for a follow-up, the PM snapped: "Why are only you allowed to come back Beth, it shows you have some kind of special position,” before quickly saying “forgive me”.

Boris Johnson under fire from viewers after Beth Rigby remarks

The altercation saw viewers head to social media to share their thoughts.

One social media user said: “Boris getting snappy at Beth Rigby. One of the few journalists in this presser pressing his buttons.”

Ian Dunt, columnist at the I newspaper said: “In this case a flash of anger directed towards Sky's Beth Rigby. She is very good, so naturally he despises her.”

A third added: “Yes, Beth Rigby broke the rules but she served her punishment. Boris set the rules and broke them, and that is worse. Lawmakers can't be lawbreakers. Rigby isn't a lawmaker. Boris is.”

Boris Johnson looking into reports of staff’s rude treatment cleaners

The Prime Minister said he had begun making inquiries about which staff had been rude to security and cleaning staff in No 10 and Whitehall.

Addressing a Downing Street press conference, Boris Johnson said: “On the behaviour of staff and alleged rudeness, I don’t know who is specifically guilty of that.

“In the course of my apologies today, I began to make some inquiries and I will, of course, continue them.

“As I said earlier on, I think it is utterly intolerable for people to be rude to hard-working staff.

“At the very least, they should apologise but I don’t yet have the names of those who were responsible.”

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.