Boris Johnson insists ‘no one told me it was against the rules’ as he apologises again for No10 parties

BORIS Johnson today insisted "no one told me it was against the rules" as faced fresh questions over lockdown-busting No10 parties.

The ashen-faced PM repeated his defence that he believed the May 2020 booze bash was a "work event" but said he was "deeply sorry".

Breaking cover for the first time in days, he fiercely denied Dominic Cummings' allegations he was warned about the knees-up in the Downing St garden.

He said: "I can tell you categorically, categorically, that nobody told me and nobody said that this was something that was against the rules or was a breach of the Covid rules, or we were doing something that wasn't a work event.

"Because, frankly, I don't think, I can't imagine why on earth it would have gone ahead or why it would have been allowed to go ahead."

The PM also personally apologised to the Queen for the two parties held the night before Prince Philip's socially-distanced funeral.

Visibly upset, he stared at the floor and sighed heavily as he was asked about the gatherings.

He then said: "I deeply and bitterly regret that that that that happened and I can only renew my apologies both to to Her Majesty and to the country for misjudgements that were made and for which I take full responsibility."

In major developments:

• Mr Johnson refused to engage in speculation he could resign
• But Dominic Raab suggested the PM will have to quit if found to have lied to the Commons
• Rishi Sunak abruptly terminated an interview when asked if he supported the PM
• Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer refused to apologise for drinking beer in lockdown
• Sajid Javid was confident Covid restrictions could be "substantially" relaxed next week

The PM, who had been isolating after a family member tested positive for Covid, was last night rocked by claims he lied to Parliament.

Scorned ex-aide Mr Cummings insisted the PM WAS told about the "bring your own booze" bash in May 2020 - but "waved it aside".

His accusation contradicts Mr Johnson's claim he had no prior knowledge of the knees-up in the Downing Street garden during lockdown.

Cabinet colleagues suggested the PM would have to resign if found to have lied to Parliament over the Partygate saga.

But Mr Johnson stuck to his story and said: "Nobody said to me this is an event that is against the rules, that is in breach of what we're asking everybody else to do, it should not go ahead.

"What I remember is going out into that garden for a short time and for 25 minutes thanking staff who'd worked on Covid, who were continuing to work on Covid, and then going back to office

"If I had my time again, I would not have allowed things to develop in that way."

CABINET SUPPORT

As pressure mounted on the PM, his top Ministers rallied round to support his version of events.

Deputy PM Dominic Raab rubbished Mr Cummings' claims as "nonsense", while Chancellor Rishi Sunak said he "of course" believed the PM.

Tory MP Peter Bone added that he doesn't "believe a word Dominic Cummings says about anything" after the Barnard Castle saga.

But Mr Raab did admit the PM's position would become untenable if found to have lied to the Commons.

Mr Sunak also raised eyebrows by appearing to abruptly ending his interview when asked of whether he "unequivocally" supported Mr Johnson.

Allies insist he answered five questions - more than the agreed three - and fully backs BoJo.

Labour's Angela Rayner said the PM "clearly knows it’s the end of the road".

Asked if he could survive the row, downbeat Mr Johnson said: "I understand people's feelings and I understand why people feel as strongly as they do about this issue.

"I repeat my apologies for what happened. I'm heartily, heartily sorry for misjudgments that were made in No 10.

"What I do need to do is wait for the conclusion of the inquiry but, before then, to keep going with what we're doing."

Downing St has repeatedly insisted Mr Johnson was not aware of an email from top official Martin Reynolds inviting staff to the "socially distanced drinks".

Since leaving No10 during a power struggle in late 2020 Mr Cummings has waged a bitter one-man war on the PM.

In the latest salvo he wrote on his blog: “I said to the PM something like: 'Martin's invited the building to a drinks party, this is what I'm talking about, you've got to grip this madhouse.” But he claims “the PM waved it aside.”

The incendiary leaked email is at the heart of a make or break probe into the scandal conducted by Whitehall sleaze-buster Sue Gray.

Mr Johnson has now given evidence to the inquiry, with No10 desperate for its findings to be sped up after days of MPs calling for his head.

'I WILL SWEAR UNDER OATH'

Whitehall officials are hopeful it may be published by the end of the week, but warn Gray is “raging” about information being withheld from her and leaks about her report to the media.

In his latest explosive intervention into the saga, Mr Cummings blasted that regarding that day alone, "never mind the string of other events", the Prime Minister "lied to Parliament about parties" by insisting he had been assured no events had taken place that would have broken coronavirus rules.

"Not only me but other eyewitnesses who discussed this at the time would swear under oath this is what happened," he said.

Last night No10 repeated their insistence that “It is untrue that the Prime Minister was warned about the event in advance.”

“As he said earlier this week he believed implicitly that this was a work event.

“He has apologised to the House and is committed to making a further statement once the investigation concludes.”

Mr Raab admitted that the party scandal has come up on the doorstep during canvassing with voters expressing "mixed views".

He said: "Double standards is toxic. I get the frustration. As lawmakers the Government has got to take a lead and show it's acting to the highest standards."

Former Brexit-ally Steve Baker MP warned it was “impossible to say” if Mr Johnson will lead the Tories into the next election because people may be “too angry to forgive” the lockdown smashing bashes.

The PM apologised to the Queen after one of the parties was held the night before Prince Philip's funeral. 

The party was a farewell for outgoing Director of Communications James Slack. Mr Slack now works as Deputy Editor-in-Chief at The Sun. 

A poll by Opinium of Tory members found two thirds back Mr Johnson as PM but a quarter want him to quit.

Just six per cent said they believed Mr Johnson was telling the truth about parties, with a 29 per cent saying he was not.