No 10 Christmas party: Mayor of London Sadiq Khan says Boris Johnson needs to ‘come clean’

The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has said that Boris Johnson needs to “come clean” following the No 10 Christmas party scandal.

This comes as an official investigation has been launched into several government parties which took place last year.

These include Downing Street parties on November 27 and December 18, and at the Department for Education on December 10, which will be examined for Covid rule breaches.

“I think the important thing for the prime minister is to come clean,” Mr Khan told LondonWorld.

“The important thing for the prime minister is to recognise we need clarity when it comes to this virus, we need the public to have confidence in those that make the rules.

“Those that make the rules shouldn’t break the rules, that’s why it’s so important for him to come clean.

“We’ve seen Allegra Stratton do the decent thing, it’s important for the prime minister to come clean about what happened at Downing Street last year.

“It appears there wasn’t just one party, there were many parties and the public deserves to know what happened.”

Boris Johnson announced on Wednesday that an inquiry would be carried out by senior civil servant Simon Case, after a video from last year emerged of government staff joking about a party that took place on December 18.

The event took place two days after London went into Tier 3, meaning people were not allowed to mix indoors with anyone outside their household or support bubble.

The 10 December gathering allegedly took place during the same period of strict restrictions, while on 27 November, England was in full lockdown.

Government spokeswoman Allegra Stratton resigned later on Wednesday over the video, obtained by ITV News, in which she appeared, saying she was "truly sorry".

Paymaster general Michael Ellis announced the terms of the investigation to the House of Commons on Thursday.

"As with all internal investigations if, during the course of the work any evidence emerges of behaviour that is potentially a criminal offence, the matter will be referred to the police and the Cabinet Office’s work may be paused.

"All ministers, special advisers and civil servants will be expected to cooperate with this investigation."

At prime minister’s questions on Wednesday 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.

“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.”