Controversy over Boris Johnson’s involvement in partygate and COVID-19 rule-breaking has been dismissed as “soggy sandwiches and a slice of birthday cake” by an ally of the previous prime minister.
Tory MP Paul Bristow advised Sky News the tremendous handed to Mr Johnson by Scotland Yard over a lockdown-busting gathering in Downing Street was “ridiculous”.
He additionally rounded on a report by MPs which mentioned proof strongly instructed breaches of coronavirus steerage would have been “obvious” to the then-Tory chief.
The cross-party Privileges Committee, which is ready to cross-examine Mr Johnson later this month, mentioned the Commons might have been misled not less than 4 occasions.
However, Mr Bristow has sought to discredit the inquiry, arguing it’s “relying on evidence” from a separate report into occasions in No 10 by civil service investigator Sue Gray, who’s to be a part of the workplace of Labour chief Sir Keir Starmer as his chief of workers.
Mr Johnson has additionally mentioned it was “surreal” the committee proposes to depend on proof “culled and orchestrated” by Ms Gray.
The committee has defended its probe insisting it’s “not based on the Sue Gray report”, which final 12 months detailed lockdown-breaking, booze-fuelled events in Downing Street throughout Mr Johnson’s management and performed a task in his downfall.
However, urgent his assault Mr Bristow mentioned: “This is just ludicrous. If it wasn’t so serious it would be laughable.
“Relying on proof from a report compiled by the chief of the opposition’s chief of workers. It makes the entire course of totally ludicrous.”
Highlighting Mr Johnson’s victory on the 2019 election the place he secured an 80-seat majority, Mr Bristow mentioned: “We ended up getting rid of him on the basis of a few photos of a birthday party, which looks to be honest not a very exciting birthday party.
“It goes in opposition to pure justice that it is primarily based on a report produced by the chief of the opposition’s chief of workers.
“The idea that we got rid of him because of a few soggy sandwiches from Sainsbury’s is a complete joke.”
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On Mr Johnson receiving one of many 126 penalty notices issued by the Metropolitan Police for lockdown breaches in Downing Street and Whitehall, Mr Bristow mentioned: “The fine Boris Johnson got was for the soggy sandwiches and a slice of birthday cake. If anyone looked at that objectively would think it was ridiculous.”
Meanwhile, Labour has defended the “integrity” of Ms Gray after her recruitment by the opposition sparked an outcry from Conservative MPs.
Party chairwoman Anneliese Dodds advised Sky News: “Sue Gray is a person of enormous integrity. Someone who served in the civil service under ministers of a number of parties actually, someone who’s always served with that integrity.”
“I’m really delighted she’s joining the Labour team at that point where we’re readying ourselves for government if the British public backs us at the next general election.”
Ms Gray additionally acquired backing from former Conservative Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude who mentioned he had by no means the “slightest reason to question either her integrity or her political impartiality”.
But former Conservative chief Sir Iain Duncan Smith advised Times Radio: “There needs to be a much clearer sense for civil servants that once you go into politics it’s a different game altogether.”
Source: information.sky.com”