Boris Johnson: Starmer responds to birthday party allegations

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The revelations, reported first by ITV News, stated Mr Johnson held a rule-breaking bash for his birthday on June 19. His wife, Carrie, had organised a “surprise get-together” for him just after 2pm, which saw up to 30 people gather in Downing Street’s Cabinet Room. That evening, the Prime Minister reportedly hosted family friends upstairs in his residence, further breaching rules his Government had set.

What were the Covid rules on June 19, 2020?

The report placed the party just days after Mr Johnson made a public plea for the public to continue following rules his Government had set.

In a June 10 Downing Street broadcast, he asked Britons to “show restraint” and “respect” rules “designed to keep us all safe”.

At the time, rules would have prohibited both of the gatherings in which the PM took part.

During June 2020, the UK was exiting its first Covid wave, and restrictions at the time reflected that.

While some rules had loosened since March, they remained around social gatherings.

These were still prohibited under the restrictions, while outdoor socially distanced meetings were permitted, provided only six people attended.

The law only permitted gatherings where “reasonably necessary” and “for work purposes, or for the provision of voluntary or charitable services”. 

Single adult households were allowed to form ‘support bubbles’ with others from June 13.

During his June 10 speech, Mr Johnson reiterated that the rules were “emphatically not designed” for those who don’t qualify to meet in other homes.

He said doing so “remains against the law”, and at the time, thousands of people had received a fine for breaking the rules since March.

As the Prime Minister celebrated his birthday, the UK reported 997 cases and 52 deaths.

Hospitals admitted a further 126 people with a Covid infection.

Downing Street denied the party and gathering took place in a statement to ITV news. 

Speaking about the alleged surprise party, a Number 10 spokesperson said: “A group of staff working in No 10 that day gathered briefly in the Cabinet Room after a meeting to wish the Prime Minister a happy birthday. He was there for less than ten minutes.”

And addressing the claims of the subsequent gathering at the PM’s residence, the spokesperson added: “This is totally untrue. In line with the rules at the time the Prime Minister hosted a small number of family members outside that evening.”

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