Security minister defends PM following further party revelations

The security minister has this morning afformed his support for the prime minster following further bombshell revelations about lockdown gatherings at Downing Street.

“I think the leadership the Prime Minister has shown particularly through the coronavirus has been very strong,” Damien Hinds told Sky News’ Breakfast programme, adding: “We’ve had the strongest vaccination programme in Europe, the most tested nation in Europe.”

When quizzed by BBC One’s Breakfast programme about whether rules had been broken at Downing Street in light of this morning’s apology from Johnson’s former director of communications after it was reported that a party was hosted for him on the eve of Prince Philip’s funeral.

“Yes, on the face of it, if you have a large number of people, coming to, being invited to a social event and socialising taking place,” Mr Hinds explained.

He rejected the idea that there was a “culture of rule-breaking” at No 10, but qualified this by stating that: “Obviously if you’re a rule-maker, you can’t be a rule-breaker.”