Former Adviser Says UK PM Boris Johnson Knows Party During Lockdown On Downing Street 10

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. (Wikimedia Commons/UK Prime Minister)

JAKARTA - A former senior adviser to Boris Johnson from Britain said on Monday he was willing to swear under oath the prime minister knew a party was being held at his residence during the COVID-19 lockdown, calling him a lie to parliament.

British media have reported at least 11 gatherings took place at 10 Downing Street, the UK Prime Minister's official residence and office, or in other government departments between May 2020 and April 2021, when COVID-19 rules limit how many people can meet socially. An internal investigation is underway to establish the facts.

PM Johnson last week apologized to parliament for attending a 'bring your own drink' meeting in a Downing Street park on May 20, 2020, but said he thought it was a work event.

Dominic Cummings, an architect of Britain's exit from the European Union and a former senior adviser to PM Johnson who left the government under harsh terms in November 2020, said on Twitter the prime minister had agreed the binge drinking should continue.

"Not just me, but other eyewitnesses who discussed this at the time of swearing under oath, this is what happened," Cummings said on his blog, citing Reuters Jan. 18.

Last week ITV News published an email invitation from PM Johnson's Principal Personal Secretary, Martin Reynolds to the May 20, 2020 event, asking attendees to "bring your own booze".

Cummings said after Reynolds was told to cancel the invitation by at least two people, Reynolds checked with PM Johnson whether it should go ahead.

"The PM approved it," Cummings wrote on his blog.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for PM Johnson denied earlier on Monday that the prime minister had been notified of the events of May 20.

"It is incorrect to say that the prime minister was notified or forewarned," the spokesman said.