Boris Johnson must take responsibility for a party at Downing Street during strict lockdown measures in May 2020 and resign, according to West Dunbartonshire’s MP.
Last week the PM was forced to apologise to parliament after details of a party that 100 Number 10 staff were invited to were revealed. Details of further lockdown breaching parties at Downing Street, involving Mr Johnson’s wife, Carrie, were also uncovered over the weekend.
Even Gartocharn’s Conservative councillor, Sally Page, has said that she agrees with Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross that Johnson’s time is up.
The PM admitted he had been at the “bring your own booze” bash in the garden of Downing Street on May 20, 2020, when such gatherings were banned under Covid rules.
And furious West Dunbartonshire MP Martin Docherty-Hughes said Johnson must resign, as he highlighted the heartbreaking death toll in the area to parliament.
Speaking in the House of Commons, the SNP member said: “As of last week, across Clydebank, Dumbarton and the Vale of Leven, 300 men and women - my constituents - have died of Covid-19.
“Most were intubated, the vast majority were alone, and many were without access to the burial traditions of our ancestors.
“I ask the Paymaster General whether they agree that if a Tory party in Downing Street took place during a global public health emergency, and if the Prime Minister participated and/or sanctioned it in any shape or form, and if senior members of the British civil service in Whitehall did the same, or were even invited and did nothing to advise against it, that is a fatal blow not only to the Prime Minister’s premiership but to the independence and impartiality of the civil service in Whitehall?”
Apologising to the House of Commons during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Johnson said he offered his “heartfelt” apologies.
He said: “I know that millions of people across this country have made extraordinary sacrifices over the last 18 months. I know the anguish that they have been through, unable to mourn their relatives and unable to live their lives as they want or to do the things they love.
“I know the rage they feel with me and with the Government I lead when they think that in Downing Street itself the rules are not being properly followed by the people who make the rules.
“I believed implicitly that this was a work event, but with hindsight, I should have sent everyone back inside. I should have found some other way to thank them, and I should have recognised that even if it could be said technically to fall within the guidance, there would be millions and millions of people who simply would not see it that way.
“People who suffered terribly, people who were forbidden from meeting loved ones at all, inside or outside - and to them, and to this House, I offer my heartfelt apologies.”
The apology was followed by calls from leader of the opposition, Sir Keir Starmer, for Johnson to resign - something echoed by Mr Docherty-Hughes.
He added: “My constituents have sacrificed so much during this pandemic.
“Back in May 2020 many here in West Dunbartonshire were struggling in isolation; local care workers battled to keep the virus under control whilst families couldn’t be with loved ones in their final moments.
“There is real anger to learn that at the same time - during the height of this public health crisis - officials in Downing Street were throwing ‘BYOB’ garden parties.
“The lies and deceit of this Tory government have eroded public confidence and undermined efforts to combat this deadly virus.
“And this is just the latest in a line of scandals since Boris Johnson took office – from rule breaking Covid parties, to allegations of corruption and ‘cash for access.’
“It appears the Prime Minister’s carelessness with the truth is finally catching up with him. He should show some leadership, take responsibility and resign.”
The apology did little to win favour with his own party either, with Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross calling for Mr Johnson to resign.
And Conservative councillor for Gartocharn, Sally Page, said that she had spoken to Mr Ross, and fellow Tory councillor Brian Walker - and that they share views on the future of Johnson.
She told the Lennox: “The support of the UK Government to Scotland during the whole pandemic has enabled us to look after our residents whether this was through the furlough scheme, business support, extra funds for education and the NHS. The foresight to buy ahead on the vaccine production allowed the UK to roll-out one of the most extensive vaccination programmes in the world. The UK economy is has now passed pre-pandemic levels. This was all under Boris Johnson’s leadership.
“Therefore it is a great pity that these stories of the get-togethers at Number 10 Downing Street, at a time when the whole country was under lockdown conditions, undermine so much hard work and commitment by so many people.
“It is not for us, as councillors, to call for a Prime Minister to step down but we both support the line that Douglas Ross has taken.”
Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie said that the PM’s position was now untenable.
She commented: “People in my constituency have made huge sacrifices throughout the pandemic. Those difficult decisions and steps they took to protect themselves and others have now been thrown back in their faces by Boris Johnson.
“Whether he attended all of these parties or not, his actions completely demean his position as Prime Minister and show nothing but contempt to the British people. It’s clearly one rule for them and another one for the rest of us.
“At the time these parties were happening, I was hearing on a regular basis from my constituents, frustrated and struggling to cope as they were cut off from loved ones either in hospital or care homes. The number of people locally who died as a result of Covid reached 100 in May 2020 as the Prime Minister and others partied together despite huge restrictions being in place.
“I cannot see how Boris Johnson can continue to lead this country and demand he does the decent thing now and resigns immediately.”
