Boris Johnson said he is ‘furious’ after seeing a video of No 10 staff appearing to joke about a secret Christmas party.

Downing Street has repeatedly insisted there was no bash and coronavirus rules had been followed at all times following reports one took place there on December 18.

But footage obtained by ITV News shows the Prime Minister’s then press secretary Allegra Stratton answering questions at a mock press conference on December 22 about a party the previous Friday – the date of the alleged rule-breaking gathering.

At PMQs, Mr Johnson said he has asked a Cabinet Secretary to investigate what happened.

But he once again denied there was a party and said no Covid rules were broken.

He said: ‘I understand and share the anger up and down the country at seeing No 10 staff seeming to make light of lockdown measures, and I can understand how infuriating it must be to think that people who have been setting the rules have not been following the rules because I was also furious to see that clip.

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‘I apologise unreservedly for the offence that it has caused up and down the country and I apologise for the impression that it gives.

‘But I repeat that I have been repeatedly assured since these allegations emerged that there was no party and that no Covid rules were broken, and that is what I have been repeatedly assured.’

Despite saying there was no party, the PM said there would be an investigation to ‘establish all the facts’.

‘It goes without saying that if those rules were broken then there will be disciplinary action for all those involved,’ he said.

But Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer accused the prime minister of lying and taking the public ‘for fools’.

‘It’s obvious what happened, Ant and Dec were ahead of the Prime Minister on this,’ he quipped, in a reference to the TV presenters taking swipe at the reports on yesterday’s episode of I’m a Celebrity.

‘The Prime Minister has been caught red handed. Why doesn’t he end the investigation by admitting it?’

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Sir Keir said that the Queen sat alone at her husband’s funeral in April due to Covid restrictions.

The Labour leader told the Commons: ‘Her Majesty the Queen sat alone when she marked the passing of the man she’d been married to for 73 years. Leadership, sacrifice – that’s what gives leaders the moral authority to lead.

‘Does the prime minister think he has the moral authority to lead and to ask the British people to stick to the rules?’

Mr Johnson accused Sir Keir of trying to ‘muddy the waters, to confuse the public and to cause needless confusion about the guidance’ during the pandemic.

But unphased he replied: ‘That’s so desperate and even his own side can see it.’

Boris Johnson has been facing calls to resign over the video, which emerged last night.

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In the clip, adviser Ed Oldfield asked Ms Stratton: ‘I’ve just seen reports on Twitter that there was a Downing Street Christmas party on Friday night, do you recognise those reports?’

Ms Stratton, laughing, replied ‘it wasn’t a party, it was cheese and wine’.

The footage followed reports that a large party was held in Downing Street on December 18 last year where around ’40 or 50′ people were crammed ‘cheek by jowl’ in a room.

The Met Police have said they will probe the footage.

The PM agreed to provide the force with any information the government has about Downing Street parties as he came under fire during PMQs.

Sir Keir said: ‘Last week the Prime Minister told us there was no party, now he thinks there’s something to investigate. The Justice Secretary thinks the police don’t investigate crimes from a year ago – well I rang the Crown Prosecution Service and I can tell him that’s total nonsense.;

The Labour leader said more than a dozen breaches of Covid restrictions last December were being prosecuted ‘right now’ in Westminster Magistrates’ Court, including for those who hosted parties.

He added: ‘They’re doing their job – enforcing the law set in Downing Street. Will the Prime Minister support the police and support the CPS by handing over everything the Government knows about parties in Downing Street to the Metropolitan Police?’

Mr Johnson replied: ‘Of course we will do that and we will get on with the investigation by the Cabinet Secretary.

‘He continually wants to play politics with this issue, we want to get on with our job of protecting the country during the pandemic and delivering the fastest vaccine rollout in Europe.’

This is a breaking news story, more to follow soon… Check back shortly for further updates.

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