Ministers have denied claims that Boris Johnson was prepared to let “bodies pile high” rather than order another coronavirus lockdown, as the fallout from Downing Street’s bitter briefing war continued.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said it was “not true” to suggest Mr Johnson made that comment, while Health Minister Nadine Dorries said it was an “outright lie”.
The remarks were reportedly made after the Prime Minister agreed to a second lockdown, and suggest Mr Johnson was prepared to face a mounting death toll rather than order a third set of tough restrictions, something he was eventually forced to do.
A Cabinet minister has denied that Boris Johnson is “sleazy”, following allegations the Prime Minister asked Conservative donors to secretly pay for Downing Street refurbishments.
Labour is expected to pile further pressure on the Government over claims made by Mr Johnson’s former aide, Dominic Cummings, that the Prime Minister wanted donors to “secretly pay for the renovation” of his official flat, in a move called “unethical, foolish, possibly illegal” by the ex-Vote Leave campaigner.
Asked about the allegations, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said Mr Johnson had paid “out of his own pocket” for the Downing Street upgrade.
Mr Wallace told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Do I think the Prime Minister is sleazy? No, I don’t.
He said: These comments are utterly abhorrent. If they are true, Boris Johnson has a duty to resign. The Prime Minister must now come to Parliament to give a statement, and face questioning, on these shocking claims and the growing Tory sleaze scandal engulfing Westminster.”
Boris Johnson has a duty to resign if reports of his comments on the prospect of a third coronavirus lockdown are found to be true, according to the SNP.
Downing Street has dismissed the Daily Mail’s report, based on testimony from an unnamed source, as “just another lie” - but it comes at an extremely uncomfortable time for Mr Johnson, who is struggling to face down accusations of sleaze over texts concerning the UK’s tax code that he exchanged with engineer James Dyson.
Ministers scrambled to shore up Boris Johnson amid his spiralling war with Dominic Cummings today - condemning comedy claims the PM said he would rather see bodies piling up than lock down again.
No10 has furiously denied allegations that Mr Johnson made the remark in a fit of pique after agreeing the second round of brutal coronavirus restrictions last year.
The claims emerged in the Daily Mail amid an increasingly damaging battle with Mr Cummings, his former chief aide - although the identity of the source was not disclosed. Tories are alarmed that the spate of briefings could mean mutually assured destruction and harm the party at crucial elections next week.