Party whoppers

PM's former aide accuses him of lying to MPs over lockdown knees-ups

- PIPPA CRERAR

DOMINIC Cummings claims he told Boris Johnson "you've got to grip this madhouse" after the invite was sent out asking around 100 staff to attend the BYOB party at No10.

He says at least two senior officials told Boris Johnson's Principal Private Secretary Martin Reynolds to cancel the garden party on May 20, 2020.

Mr Reynolds then allegedly checked with the PM whether the event could go ahead, and was told that it could.

Mr Cummings, a bitter foe of the PM since his departure from No10 in November 2020, also claimed he had challenged Mr Johnson himself.

If true, this means the PM lied to the house in his apology last week.

In his latest blog, Mr Cummings writes: “I said to the PM something like: Martin's invited the building to a drinks party, this is what I'm talking about, you've got T) to grip this madhouse. The PM waved it aside."