TOP NEWS: UK PM "contrite" over partygate amid hint of No 10 overhaul

(Alliance News) - UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is "contrite" over allegations of Covid ...

Alliance News 16 January, 2022 | 10:46AM
Email Form Facebook Twitter LinkedIn RSS

(Alliance News) - UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is "contrite" over allegations of Covid rule-breaking and will seek to "address the underlying culture in Downing Street" that led to partygate, a Cabinet minister said.

Conservative Party Chair Oliver Dowden admitted there were "failings" in No 10, following a series of leaks about alleged lockdown parties, but he denied it was a resigning matter for Johnson.

Dowden said the UK government plans to "address the kind of culture that has allowed" the reported flouting of coronavirus laws to happen, in a hint of a shake-up at the top of Johnson's administration.

It comes after The Sunday Times reported that the prime minister is devising a policy announcement blitz and a cull of his inner circle as he looks to survive the publication of senior civil servant Sue Gray's report into so-called partygate.

Martin Reynolds, his principal private secretary who sent an email inviting staff to "bring your own booze" in the No 10 garden during the first coronavirus lockdown, and Reynolds' deputy Stuart Glassborow are likely to be forced out of Downing Street, according to the newspaper.

No 10 chief of staff Dan Rosenfield's position could also be at risk, it suggested.

Speaking to the BBC's Sunday Morning programme, Dowden said: "I can assure you the prime minister is both very contrite and deeply apologetic for what happened.

"But, more importantly, he is determined to make sure that this can't be allowed to happen and that we address the underlying culture in Downing Street.

"There were failings: we should have done better, much, much better. We need to up our game, and that needs to be addressed, and I know the prime minister is committed to addressing that."

By Patrick Daly and Martina Bet, PA

source: PA

Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.

Email Form Facebook Twitter LinkedIn RSS

About Author

Alliance News

Alliance News provides Morningstar with continuously updating coverage of news affecting listed companies.

© Copyright 2024 Morningstar, Inc. All rights reserved.

Terms of Use        Privacy Policy        Modern Slavery Statement        Cookie Settings        Disclosures