Boris Johnson said it is “demonstrably untrue” that partygate has damaged the UK’s reputation on the international stage.
It follows claims by former prime minister Sir John Major that reports of parties held in Downing Street during lockdown had “shredded” Britain’s diplomatic reputation.
Asked by reporters in Poland what he made of Sir John’s criticism, Mr Johnson said: “That is demonstrably untrue.”
Pressed on whether he had broken lockdown rules, the Tory Party leader said: “I’m going to have plenty to say on that in due course.”
In a scathing attack on the prime minister on Thursday, Sir John said that Mr Johnson had broken lockdown laws and that trust in politics had hit a “low ebb, eroded by foolish behaviour”. He said that “too often, ministers have been evasive, and the truth has been optional”.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister is expected to be among some 50 people set to receive an email and questionnaire from detectives working on Operation Hillman – the Met’s investigation into at least 12 parties and gatherings in Downing Street between May 2020 and April 2021.
