Nicola Sturgeon says PM needs to 'come clean' on Downing Street party
Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross has described the situation as a 'deeply damaging affair'
Last updated 8th Dec 2021
The First Minister has urged Boris Johnson to "come clean" over an alleged party at Downing Street after a video surfaced appearing to show aides joking about it.
The footage, obtained by ITV News, shows the Prime Minister's then press secretary Allegra Stratton practicing for a press briefing by fielding questions from other Number 10 staff - one of whom asks about a "fictional" gathering in Downing Street, about which Ms Stratton appears to joke.
Speaking on Wednesday, Nicola Sturgeon said the Prime Minister "appears to be not being straight and truthful about it".
"I think this is a really serious issue for the Prime Minister and I think he has to come clean."
FM says public right to be angry after having Christmas 'cancelled'
Ms Sturgeon went on to say that at the time the alleged party took place, a new strict lockdown was a little more than a week away.
"This was last Christmas - 18 and 19 December are dates engraved on my mind as perhaps one of, if not the lowest, darkest point in the whole pandemic.
"We had told people they could have some very limited normality over Christmas then at the last minute we had to snatch that away and dash people's hopes.
"That is what makes people so angry about what was allegedly happening in Downing Street."
Mr Johnson has come under pressure in the past week over the allegations of a gathering - which he has previously denied took place, although the Cabinet Secretary has been instructed to investigate.
Boris Johnson facing pressure from within his own party
Members of his own party are now speaking out against the PM, with former Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson describing his response to Sir Keir Starmer at Prime Minister's Questions "pathetic".
Current Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross told MFR News the situation had been poorly handled, conceding there was a "party of sorts" in Downing Street – and adding that this was against the guidance in place at the time.
Douglas Ross 'still has confidence' in Prime Minister
Mr Ross said: "Ultimately we need to see what the enquiry concludes, and it’s important that these serious questions are answered.
When asked if he still has confidence in Boris Johnson to lead the country through the pandemic, the Scottish Tory leader said: “I have confidence in the Prime Minister as leader of the United Kingdom – but I’m not shying away from the fact that this has been a deeply damaging affair.”
“Crucially, if people didn’t follow the guidance, if a party was held in Downing Street – as I think it looks like it was – those people need to be held accountable.”