Boris Johnson’s partygate bash dismissed as just ‘soggy sandwiches and a slice of birthday cake’ by ally
Controversy over Boris Johnson’s involvement in partygate and COVID-19 rule-breaking has been dismissed as “soggy sandwiches and a slice of birthday cake” by an ally of the former prime minister.
Tory MP Paul Bristow told Sky News the fine handed to Mr Johnson by Scotland Yard over a lockdown-busting gathering in Downing Street was “ridiculous”.
He also rounded on a report by MPs which said evidence strongly suggested breaches of coronavirus guidance would have been “obvious” to the then-Tory leader.
Boris Johnson’s birthday party fine has been branded ‘ridiculous’
The cross-party Privileges Committee, which is set to cross-examine Mr Johnson later this month, said the Commons may have been misled at least four times.
However, Mr Bristow has sought to discredit the inquiry, arguing it is “relying on evidence” from a separate report into events in No 10 by civil service investigator Sue Gray, who is to join the office of Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer as his chief of staff.
Mr Johnson has also said it was “surreal” the committee proposes to rely on evidence “culled and orchestrated” by Ms Gray.
The committee has defended its probe insisting it is “not based on the Sue Gray report”, which last year detailed lockdown-breaking, booze-fuelled parties in Downing Street during Mr Johnson’s leadership and played a role in his downfall.
However, pressing his attack Mr Bristow said: “This is just ludicrous. If it wasn’t so serious it would be laughable.
“Relying on evidence from a report compiled by the leader of the opposition’s chief of staff. It makes the whole process utterly ludicrous.”
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‘I believed events were within the rules’
Highlighting Mr Johnson’s victory at the 2019 election where he secured an 80-seat majority, Mr Bristow said: “We ended up getting rid of him on the basis of a few photos of a birthday party, which looks to be honest not a very exciting birthday party.
“It goes against natural justice that it’s based on a report produced by the leader of the opposition’s chief of staff.
“The idea that we got rid of him because of a few soggy sandwiches from Sainsbury’s is a complete joke.”
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Partygate: What did Boris know?
Read more:
Everything you need to know about the investigation
New photos of Johnson at lockdown gatherings
On Mr Johnson receiving one of the 126 penalty notices issued by the Metropolitan Police for lockdown breaches in Downing Street and Whitehall, Mr Bristow said: “The fine Boris Johnson got was for the soggy sandwiches and a slice of birthday cake. If anyone looked at that objectively would think it was ridiculous.”
Meanwhile, Labour has defended the “integrity” of Ms Gray after her recruitment by the opposition sparked an outcry from Conservative MPs.
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Starmer defends Sue Gray appointment
Party chairwoman Anneliese Dodds told Sky News: “Sue Gray is a person of enormous integrity. Someone who served in the civil service under ministers of a number of parties actually, someone who’s always served with that integrity.”
“I’m really delighted she’s joining the Labour team at that point where we’re readying ourselves for government if the British public backs us at the next general election.”
Ms Gray also received backing from former Conservative Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude who said he had never the “slightest reason to question either her integrity or her political impartiality”.
But former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith told Times Radio: “There needs to be a much clearer sense for civil servants that once you go into politics it’s a different game altogether.”
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq over allegations she lived in properties linked to allies of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister of Bangladesh.
It comes after the current Bangladeshi leader, Muhammad Yunus, said London properties used by Ms Siddiq should be investigated.
He told the Sunday Times the properties should be handed back to his government if they were acquired through “plain robbery”.
Tory leader Ms Badenoch said: “It’s time for Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq.
“He appointed his personal friend as anti-corruption minister and she is accused herself of corruption.
“Now the government of Bangladesh is raising serious concerns about her links to the regime of Sheikh Hasina.”
Ms Siddiq insists she has “done nothing wrong”.
Her aunt was ousted from office in August following an uprising against her 20-year leadership and fled to India.
Ms Siddiq is also named with her aunt in Bangladesh court documents about meetings with the Russian government.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir to sack the minister
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As economic secretary to the Treasury, Ms Siddiq is responsible for policy on both the City and tackling corruption.
She referred herself to the prime minister’s ethics watchdog on Monday following the reports about the properties.
On the same day, the prime minister said: “Tulip Siddiq has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser, as she’s now done, and that’s why we brought into being the new code.
“It’s to allow ministers to ask the adviser to establish the facts, and yes, I’ve got confidence in her, and that’s the process that will now be happening.”
Police in Aberdeen have widened the search area for two sisters who disappeared four days ago in the city.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were last seen on CCTV on Market Street after leaving their home on Tuesday at around 2.12am.
The sisters – who are part of a set of triplets and originally from Hungary – crossed the Victoria Bridge to the Torry area and turned right on to a footpath next to the River Dee.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti were last seen on CCTV in Market Street. Pic: Police Scotland/PA
They headed in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club but officers said there is no evidence to suggest the missing women left the immediate area.
Specialist search teams, police dogs and a marine unit have been trying to trace the pair.
The sisters crossed Victoria Bridge before walking along a footpath next to the River Dee
The pair were heading in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club on the south side of the River Dee
Further searches are being carried out towards the Port of Aberdeen’s South Harbour and Duthie Park.
Police Scotland said it is liaising with authorities in Hungary to support the relatives of the two sisters.
Chief Inspector Darren Bruce said: “Eliza and Henrietta’s family are understandably extremely worried about them and we are working tirelessly to find them.
“We are seriously concerned about them and have significant resources dedicated to the inquiry.”
The sisters, from Aberdeen city centre, are described as slim with long brown hair.
Henrietta Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Eliza Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Officers have requested businesses in and around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to review their CCTV footage for the early morning of Tuesday 7 January.
Police added they are keen to hear from anyone with dashcam footage from that time.
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