Durham County Councillor tells Prime Minister to "fall on his sword"

There's been a furious response from people in the North East who've lost loved ones during the pandemic, after the Prime Minister's admitted he did attend a garden party in Downing Street during the first lockdown.

During Prime Minister's Questions yesterday, Boris Johnson apologised to the public saying he believed the 'bring your own booze' gathering on the 20th of May 2020 was a 'work event'.

Six days after the Downing Street gathering the mother of Durham County Councillor Paul Sexton died alone in the Sandringham Care Home in Bishop Auckland.

Due to covid restrictions at the time Councillor Sexton was unable to say goodbye to his 84 year old mother Cathleen. He believes the PM will have to live with his own actions as he calls on him to fall on his sword:

"Boris Johnson needs to brave up and look at his position, he needs to lead by example. My mother died on the 26th of May 2020. During lockdown I went to see her everyday in the home but I could only look at her through the window. I couldn't hold her hand at the end and that was the situation for thousands of other people across the country. It's difficult to find closure after the death of a loved one particularly when you haven't been there in person. To find out that the PM and his staff had been partying or holding a social gatherings is very distasteful. I feel let down, I'm very disappointed and if it was me I would be falling on my sword."

During PMQ's yesterday Labour leader Sir Kier Starmer called for the Prime Minsiter's resignation following his admissions that he did attend the event. Boris Johnson responded by saying it's a matter for senior civil servant Sue Gray, who is leading the enquiry into what happened at the series of reported parties in Downing Street.

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