Boris Johnson addressed parliament for the first time today since being fined for breaking lockdown rules.
The Prime Minister received a fixed penalty notice last week relating to a gathering in the Cabinet Room on his birthday on June 19 2020, which he has now paid. His wife Carrie Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak also received fines from Met Police over lockdown parties, despite the Prime Minister telling the Commons previously that all covid guidance was followed at the heart of Government.
He made his appearance in the House of Commons today, on April 19 at around 5pm. He 'wholeheartedly apologised' to Parliament and the nation.
READ MORE: Boris Johnson pays lockdown party fine and offers 'full apology'
In full, he said: "Let me begin in all humility by saying that on the 12th April I received a FPN relating to an evening in Downing Street on the 19th June 2020. I paid the fine immediately and I offered the British people a full apology. I take this opportunity on the first available sitting day to repeat my wholehearted apology to the House.
"As soon as I received the notice, I acknowledged the hurt and the anger. And I said that people had a right to expect better of their Prime Minister and I repeat that, Mr Speaker, again in the House now.
"Let me also say, not by way of mitigation or excuse, but purely because it explains my previous words in this House, that it did not occur to me then or subsequently that a gathering in the Cabinet room just before a vital meeting on covid strategy could amount to a breach of the rules.
"I repeat that was my mistake and I apologise for it unreservedly. I respect the outcome of the police investigation which is still underway and I can only say that I will respect their decision making and always take the appropriate steps and as the House will know I have already taken significant steps to change the way that things work in number 10.
"It is precisely because I know that so many people are angry and disappointed that I feel the need of an even greater sense of obligation to deliver on the priorities of the British people and to respond in the best traditions of our country to Putin's barbaric onslaught against Ukraine."
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