UK PM Johnson’s aide resigns, inquiry ordered into video of leaked Downing Street 'party'

London, Dec 8 (PTI) British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s aide resigned on Wednesday after he was forced to “apologise unreservedly” and order an inquiry following a leaked internal Downing Street video which showed his press office staff joking about a so-called "party" in December last year, at a time when UK was under strict lockdown rules to protect against COVID-19.

Soon after apology in Parliament, senior Downing Street aide at centre of leaked video re out a tearful resignation statement outside her home in London, saying she did not want to be a “distraction” in government’s fight against pandemic.

"My remarks seemed to make light of rules, rules that people were doing everything to obey. That was never my intention,” said Allegra Stratton, who was Johnson’s official spokesperson at time video was shot in December 2020.

"I will regret those remarks for rest of my days and I offer my profound apologies to all of you at home for m. I understand anger and frustration that people feel. To all of you who lost loved ones, who endured intolerable loneliness, and who struggled with your businesses, I am truly sorry. And this afternoon I am offering my resignation to Prime Minister," she said.

Earlier, dressing weekly Prime Minister’s Questions session at House of Commons, Johnson started off with an apology and announced an internal inquiry by his Cabinet Secretary to establish full facts around leaked video.

He, however, maintained that no party actually took place that would have been in breach of lockdown rules at time.

"I was also furious and I apologise unreservedly for offence it h caused up and down country, and I apologise for impression it gives," said Johnson, with reference to video.

"I have been repeatedly assured since se allegations emerged that re was no party and that no COVID rules were broken… Cabinet Secretary has been charged to establish all facts and it goes without saying that if those rules were broken n re will be disciplinary action for all those involved," he said.

Johnson faced off with a furious Opposition Labour Party Leer, Sir Keir Starmer, who dismissed his opening statement as raising more questions than answers.

"Millions of people now think Prime Minister was taking m for fools and y were lied to – y were right, weren't y," he said.

Starmer accused UK PM of "pretending" that first he knew about a party, alleged to have taken place on December 18 last year, was only as a result of leaked video.

" Prime Minister has been caught red-handed," he declared.

outrage followed a video acquired by ITV News channel which shows a recording of rehearsals for Downing Street’s media briefings.

Senior press office staff blurred out in video pose “mock” questions to Allegra Stratton, Johnson’s official spokesperson at time and since n his COP26 spokesperson.

Stratton is mock asked about a so-called "party", to which she responds first by saying she went home and n jokes on to say it was a “business meeting… this fictional party was a business meeting… and it was not socially distanced”.

Members of Parliament from across party lines have condemned video as making a mockery of a serious issue at a time when people were separated from dying relatives due to a fresh wave of COVID-19 pandemic.

footage is said to be from December 22 last year – four days after an alleged Christmas party took place in Number 10.

According to some UK media reports, dummy video is understood to have been recorded by a company contracted by Downing Street to run live brocasts. contract ended when Johnson scrapped briefings. PTI AK CPS