A CONSERVATIVE MP has defended Boris Johnson after a picture showed the Prime Minister at an apparent party during lockdown, saying it "doesn't prove anything".
Peter Bone said the picture didn't look like there was a party "at all", adding that "the police carried out a very thorough investigation".
The picture, revealed by ITV News, showed the Tory leader raising a glass while alcohol, a takeaway box and snacks were seen on a table next to him.
EXCL: @ITVNews has obtained pictures of Boris Johnson drinking at a No10 party during lockdown in November 2020. The photos cast fresh doubt on the PM's repeated claims he was unaware of rule-breaking in No10 during the pandemic. See all images here:https://t.co/sUJiWpxqmm pic.twitter.com/iXopuPIQu7
— Paul Brand (@PaulBrandITV) May 23, 2022
The PM is seen next to several people who all have their faces blurred.
The party is believed to have taken place on November 13, 2020 during the UK's second major lockdown.
Bone took issue with the event being labelled a party.
"A picture, somewhat pixelated, as you rightly say, doesn't prove anything."Conservative MP @PeterBoneUK defends Boris Johnson on #TimesRadio as new Partygate pictures emerge | @JPonpolitics pic.twitter.com/KN2NghpxfJ
— Times Radio (@TimesRadio) May 23, 2022
The Wellingborough politician told Times Radio: "The Met police has said there was no such [party] and the police have seen these photographs as well.
"I'm happy to accept the police's verdict on it but we've still got to wait for the Sue Gray report."
He continued: "I think the police carried out a very thorough investigation. Some people say £500,000 investigating might have been a bit of a waste of police money but they did it.
"A picture, somewhat pixelated ... doesn't prove anything.
"An investigation was carried out by the police, he was found that he hadn't broken any of the rules."
The Prime Minister was served a Fixed Penalty Notice, along with more than 120 other Downing Street and Whitehall staff, after the police found he had broken his own Covid lockdown rules.
