Angela Rayner has hit out at the Prime Minister's new staffing appointments - describing the move as 'frantically rearranging deckchairs'.
17.01.2022 - 08:41 / dailyrecord.co.uk
As pressure grows on Boris Johnson over a series of No10 lockdown parties, the shameless PM looks set to shift the blame away from himself in a desperate bid to save his own skin.
Rather than accept any responsibility for the scandal engulfing Downing Street, he is instead likely to throw a bunch of civil servants under the bus and they could now face the axe.
It comes as we can reveal Johnson attended a leaving do for his outgoing defence adviser in the run-up to Christmas 2020 and gave a speech.
And fresh doubts were raised on the PM’s claim he did not know in advance about the No10 “bring a bottle” bash on May 20 of that year.
Sunday Times columnist Dominic Lawson claimed at least two people had warned Johnson the email invite made it clear it was a party and it should have been stopped.
If true, it blows last week’s half-hearted Commons apology out of the water and means he faces claims he breached the ministerial code by misleading Parliament.
To add further pressure, his wife Carrie was snapped breaking social distancing rules in September 2020 by hugging a friend.
The PM will hide behind claims he is to crack down on the “culture” at No10 in his bid to deflect any blame.
Those who could be singled out for blame and the chop include his principal private secretary Martin Reynolds – who sent the May 20 party invite – deputy Stuart Glassborow and chief of staff Dan Rosenfield.
But Lawson’s claims suggest Johnson knew more about the parties than he is letting on.
The well-connected columnist said: “Last week I spoke to a former Downing Street official who said at least two people had told the PM, after seeing the emailed invitation from Martin Reynolds that this was ‘a party’ and should be immediately cancelled.
“I was
Angela Rayner has hit out at the Prime Minister's new staffing appointments - describing the move as 'frantically rearranging deckchairs'.
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