ANDOVER’s MP has denied any knowledge of a ‘bring your own booze’ garden party allegedly held in Downing Street during England’s first lockdown in May 2020.

The Prime Minister has started another week in hot water amid allegations of the gathering at his home.This is not the first time Boris Johnson has faced criticism over rule-busting gatherings said to have occurred during the pandemic.

The latest revelation came in an email, leaked to ITV, from Mr Reynolds to more than 100 Downing Street employees asking them to “bring your own booze” for an evening gathering.

Multiple reports have suggested that the Prime Minister attended the event with his wife.

The email emerged on Monday afternoon (January 10). Asked if he and his wife attended a Downing Street party that was organised by Mr Reynolds on May 20 2020, Mr Johnson said on January 10 2022: “All that, as you know, is the subject of a proper investigation by Sue Gray.”

READ MORE: Police are in contact with officials after alleged No 10 garden party

The Advertiser put the following questions to Kit Malthouse, MP for North West Hampshire:

  • Were you invited to a gathering at No10 on May 20 2020, or on any other date when guidelines restricting mixing were in place?
  • Did you attend a gathering at No10 on May 20 2020, or on any other date when guidelines restricting mixing were in place?
  • Were you aware that a gathering was taking place at No10 on May 20 2020, or on any other date when guidelines restricting mixing were in place?
  • Do you think police should investigate the alleged garden party at No10 on May 20 2020?
  • What would you say to constituents who are once again feeling let down after hearing these allegations?

He simply responded “no” to the first three questions - denying any knowledge of, or attendance at, any gathering which breached rules.

Mr Malthouse, who is also the crime and policing minister, stated that any police investigation is “a matter for them”, adding: “Politicians should not interfere in the operational decisions of the police.”

He continued: “I completely understand [constituents’] concern and dismay, but I would urge them to await the outcome of the investigations.”

Meanwhile, fellow North Hampshire MP Maria Miller, who represents Basingstoke, also answered “no” to the first three questions.

She echoed Mr Malthouse’s position, saying: “Police are operationally independent and decisions on whether to investigate are a matter for them

“Sue Gray, the senior official is leading an investigation into allegations of parties across Whitehall.”

In December 2021, a photo emerged showing Boris and Carrie Johnson, former chief adviser Dominic Cummings, and Mr Johnson’s principal private secretary, Martin Reynolds, sitting around a table in the No 10 garden during the first national lockdown.

Mr Johnson said in an interview on December 20 2021: “Those were meetings of people at work. This is where I live and it’s where I work. Those were meetings of people at work, talking about work.”

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