Covid: Tory MP hits out at Downing Street over lockdown parties

Brecon and Radnorshire MP Fay Jones, which represents areas such as Hay-on-Wye, Presteigne and Knighton, said she reacted to news of parties with "shock, disappointment and frustration".

She also admitted to being "deeply angry" on behalf of people who made "severe sacrifices" during the Covid pandemic.

Ms Jones, who was elected in 2019 as she gained the seat from the Liberal Democrats, said she did not set fooT in Downing Street during lockdowns.

Brecon and Radnorshire MP Fay Jones says it's clear change is needed in Downing Street

“Quite rightly, hundreds of residents in Brecon and Radnorshire have written to me regarding the parties that took place in Downing Street during the lockdowns," Ms Jones said, after a string of alleged parties and gatherings were reported.

"Their anger and fury is entirely justified and I welcome their honesty.

Saying there was an "added sting" that lockdown rules were flouted the night before the Queen sat alone at The Duke of Edinburgh's funeral, she added: "My reaction is the same as a great many in the constituency – one of shock, disappointment and frustration. However, I am deeply angry on behalf of all those who made severe sacrifices during the pandemic.

"Many of us missed significant life events and were prevented from saying farewell to loved ones, myself included. Everyone did this in good faith that we were all in it together.

"To undermine that – just as we are making great progress against the Omicron variant – is abysmal.

"There is an added sting that lockdown rules were flouted in Downing Street the night before HRH The Duke of Edinburgh was laid to rest."

The Prime Minister's former director of communications James Slack has apologised for the "anger and hurt" caused by a leaving party held in Downing Street the night before the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral. Picture: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire

She welcome Boris Johnson's apology in the House of Commons last week as "it was the least the country deserved".

But regardless of the outcome of Sue Gray's inquiry, "it is clear that change is needed in Downing Street", she said.

She added: "Without delay, the Prime Minister needs to reimpose a much stricter standard of professionalism amongst his staff and focus his energy on tackling growing challenges like the rising cost of living."

Meanwhile, Hereford and South Herefordshire MP Jesse Norman said he "shared the public's anger at the goings-on in Downing Street".

"Many tens of thousands of people lost friends and family during lockdown, or suffered the pain and trouble of being unable to visit them, amongst much else," Mr Norman said.

"Whatever the outcome of Sue Gray's inquiry, the moral facts of the matter are clear, as the Prime Minister effectively acknowledged in his apology to the House."

It comes as Deputy Prime Minster Dominic Raab admitted Boris Johnson would “normally” be expected to resign if he intentionally misled Parliament, after fresh claims over rule-breaking parties in No 10.

Boris Johnson would be expected to resign if he misled Parliament, his Depute Prime Minister Dominic Raab has said. Picture: Peter Cziborra/Reuters/Pool/PA Wire

Mr Johnson is facing renewed calls to quit after his ex-aide Dominic Cummings said he had warned against the “bring your own booze” event in the Downing Street garden during the first lockdown.

Mr Cummings said he is willing to “swear under oath” that Mr Johnson had lied when claiming he did not know in advance that the May 20, 2020 event would be a “drinks party”.

In the Commons last week, the Prime Minister admitted spending 25 minutes at the gathering but insisted he had believed “implicitly” that it would be a work event.

A No 10 spokesman insisted Mr Johnson had apologised to the House and that he “believed implicitly” that he had been attending a work event.

“It is untrue that the Prime Minister was warned about the event in advance,” the spokesman said, adding that Mr Johnson would be making a further statement when senior civil servant Sue Gray has completed her inquiry into party allegations.

The latest salvo from Mr Cummings, who left Downing Street in November 2020, is adding to the pressure on Mr Johnson as he faces public calls to resign from six Tory MPs and widespread anger over claims that No 10 staff broke the Covid rules they imposed.