Boris Johnson accused of ‘shocking disrespect’ over party comments

Ex-PM says No 10 staff were unfairly maligned and some representations were absolutely absurd'

Boris Johnson was accused of shocking disrespect" by families bereaved by Covid after he claimed it was unfair to have expected him to stop parties held by hard-working" aides in Downing Street during lockdown.

In a second lengthy and sometimes difficult day of testimony to the Covid inquiry, the former prime minister also prompted anger by calling media coverage and TV adaptations of the No 10 parties absurd" and a travesty of the truth".