A CONSERVATIVE MP has claimed that the bombshell picture of Boris Johnson raising a glass at a Downing Street lockdown party actually shows the Prime Minister honouring those who helped save the country from Covid.
Marco Longhi said the scene of Johnson surrounded by several other people, bottles of wine and snacks does “not constitute a party”.
He said it was the Prime Minister “saluting” his staff over their work during the pandemic.
The picture was reportedly taken on November 13, 2020, during a leaving do for former director of communications Lee Cain.
At the time, Covid-19 rules set by the UK Government prevented groups of people from different households mixing indoors.
It’s understood at least one person at a Westminster party on the same day had been fined but the Met police have not said which specific gathering it is.
‘This is the Prime Minister saying thank you to everybody in doing an incredible job in saving the country.’Conservative MP Marco Longhi on images of the Prime Minister that show him holding up a glass at an event during lockdown. 💻 GB News YouTube: https://t.co/Wa58gYGZwF pic.twitter.com/LTPqlm8zsk
— GB News (@GBNEWS) May 25, 2022
Speaking to GB News, Longhi suggested the fact the Prime Minister’s red suitcase was in the picture proves it was not a party.
He said: “The Government and the team around the Prime Minister at Number 10 worked 24/7 to save individuals' lives, to save the country, to save businesses, to save jobs.
“They were scrambling around over months and months to make sure that we've got the correct amount of PPE.”
The Dudley North MP said staff were asked to do “all sorts of incredible things” as he sought to defend the PM.
“And as far as I'm concerned,” he said. “If the Prime Minister raises a glass to them to say thank you, that does not constitute a party.
“That is a thank you. And he's saluting them for what they have done. Of course, many people will want to say that this is a party … you can see he's got his red box there ready to go out. So this is all that it is.
“Are we actually saying that people were told not to drink at home, or not to drink in their place of work? That wasn't in any guideline.
“This is the Prime Minister saying thank you to everybody for doing an incredible job, as I said, saving the country.”
Asked about a culture of drinking in Downing Street, Longhi said he didn't want to preempt the Sue Gray report, which was handed to Johnson on Wednesday.
The report is expected to be highly critical of the culture in No 10 which led to the repeated violations of Covid restrictions over the course of 2020 and 2021.
A Cabinet Office spokesman said: “We can confirm that Sue Gray has provided her final report to the Prime Minister.”
