Downing Street parties: Welsh secretary admits row damaging government

A member of Boris Johnson's cabinet has conceded allegations of Downing Street parties during lockdown are hurting his party and the UK government.

Welsh Secretary Simon Hart said he had not met anyone who is not "deeply conscious of the effect that this has on people's attitudes" to both.

He said he did not attend any parties during the lockdown period.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson apologised for attending a "bring your own booze" party during the first lockdown.

He told the Commons the event in the Downing Street garden was "technically within the rules" but he should have realised how it would look to the public.

"I believed implicitly that this was a work event," he said.

He faced calls to quit, and Rhondda Labour MP Chris Bryant accused Mr Johnson of a "shower of shenanigans" and making fools of Tory MPs.

"The prime minister didn't spot that he was at a social event," he said. "How stupid does the prime minister think the British people are?"

Shadow Welsh secretary Jo Stevens told BBC Wales Mr Johnson should resign now because "we know enough".

"We don't need an inquiry to tell us what we already know, which is that the prime minister broke the law by attending a party on the 20th of May 2020 - when we were in lockdown and when the rules prevented those things happening."

"He's disgraced the office of prime minister. He has repeatedly lied, both outside Parliament and in Parliament, and he's not fit to hold office."

Speaking in a press briefing before Prime Minister's Questions, Simon Hart said: "I don't think anybody who works in Downing Street or anywhere else thinks that this is a happy place to be."

"There's a lot of frustration and bafflement about all of this," he said, adding: "I've not met anybody who's not deeply, deeply conscious of the effect that this has on people's attitudes to not just the political party but the government."

"I don't think anybody's in any doubt that these kinds of issues do not help in our efforts to navigate our way out of Covid and into better economic times."

Mr Hart said he was not at "any of these parties, or any others for that matter, during the periods in question, so I can give you that assurance here and now".

When asked whether he thought the prime minister should resign, Mr Hart explained that he did not want to prejudice the current review, led by Sue Gray.

"We have to try and resolve it quickly," he added. "I'm deeply conscious of how frustrating this is and how painful this is for a lot of people. And the last thing any of us want to do is to add to the agony that Covid has always already imposed on the whole population."

Mr Hart said that he knows the prime minister "is as anxious as anyone for this to be resolved. I've got to know him sufficiently well to be able to say that I trust him."`

Voters in Bridgend, a seat the Conservatives won from Labour at the general election, were highly critical of the prime minister.

Jeff Evans, from nearby Bettws, said: "I lost my mother in lockdown. I couldn't go and visit her."

His 86-year-old mother Margaret Evans died on her own in hospital during lockdown, after having a stroke, with no visitors allowed.

Jeff's wife Beverly said it was time to "get rid of" Mr Johnson.

"I can't wait to see him go and that's the truth."

Lynda Roberts said Mr Johnson's apology was "not good enough, he should go. He's broken his own rules, hasn't he?"

Tony Green, previously a Conservative voter said: "I do like him, and I think he's done a fairly good job.

"But he's made too many mistakes, and this one's the biggest."

He said the prime minister's behaviour had "changed his mind" about voting Tory.

Whether he would vote for party again "all depends on who they get in to take his place", he said.

"But when you look at the people who are underneath him I'm not impressed with any of them at the moment."

Plaid Cymru's Delyth Jewell told Radio Cymru's Dros Ginio that what the prime minister had done was "unforgivable".

"It's obvious the experience of the pandemic has been different for them compared to everyone else and that's going to impact on how likely people are to follow the rules.

Welsh Conservative Senedd leader Andrew RT Davies said Boris Johnson had "rightly apologised".

"People are hurt, angry and let down at the events of the past 48 hours," he said.

"The inquiry by the senior civil servant, Sue Gray, must now be expedited to establish the full facts and report the findings as soon as possible.

"It's vital the prime minister continues his work on the booster roll out, which has been world-leading, so we can get Britain on the road to recovery and free from restrictions."