By Press Association 2021
Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a visit to Moreton farm in Clwyd near Wrexham, North Wales, as part of Welsh the Conservative Party s Senedd election campaign
Michael Gove has backed Boris Johnson after the Prime Minister allegedly said he was prepared to let “bodies pile high” rather than order another coronavirus lockdown.
The Cabinet Office minister said on Monday that he “never heard language of that kind” in the meeting where Mr Johnson ordered the second shutdown in England.
The Prime Minister was also forced to deny making the statement, saying the allegation was “total rubbish” as he faced questions about the bitter briefing war that has hit No 10.
Ministers and the Cabinet Secretary face a grilling today over claims Boris Johnson tried to get Tory donors to fund a £60,000 Downing Street flat renovation.
Cabinet Secretary Simon Case will appear before MPs following a string of explosive allegations made by Dominic Cummings.
Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove is also set to answer an urgent question in the Commons as Labour seeks to capitalise on the meltdown.
Mr Cummings has accused the PM of wanting donors to secretly pay for the renovation of his official residence, in a move the former No10 aide branded unethical, foolish, possibly illegal .
Downing Street insists the premier funded the work himself in the end, and all ministerial and electoral rules have been followed.