LEIGH MP James Grundy has described the 'bring your own booze' party attended by Boris Johnson in lockdown as "clearly wrong".

On May 20, 2020, as many as 100 staff were invited to "socially distanced drinks in the No 10 garden" by Boris Johnson's principal private secretary, Martin Reynolds.

At the time, government guidelines stated that you could not leave your home without a "reasonable excuse" and could only meet one person outside of your household in an "outdoor, public place - provided that you stay two metres apart".

Many have concluded that these rules almost certainly will have been broken in the No 10 garden, which is just one of a string of alleged lockdown events organised by Downing Street staff.

With many residents sharing stories of how they were isolating, grieving or isolating at this time, Boris Johnson has since apologised for his involvement in the 'party'.

Encouraging Leigh's MP James Grundy to condemn the actions of the Prime Minister, Leigh, Wigan and Makerfield Labour Councillors said that Mr Johnson's actions "mocked" everyone who "pulled together to protect lives and livelihoods" throughout the darkest days of the pandemic.

Stopping short of a condemnation, James Grundy said that the Prime Minister's actions were "clearly wrong" and it was right for him to apologise.

He also called on the Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to do the same, after a picture emerged of him drinking with staff prior to the Hartlepool by-election in May 2021 - which the Labour party deny broke any rules at the time.

Leigh Journal: James Grundy MPJames Grundy MP

James Grundy MP said: "I am aware of the reports in the press about both PM Boris Johnson and Labour Leader Keir Starmer attending drinking events with staff during lockdown.

"I think the public will be disappointed with the actions of both leaders, which are clearly wrong, and should not have happened.

"It was right for the Prime Minister to apologise, and I hope Labour Leader Kier Starmer will offer a similar apology in due course.

"I live with my medically vulnerable 81 year old father, and my family were very careful to follow the rules for fear of what might happen to him if he did catch Coronavirus, as did most other members of the public and their families, and I completely understand the public outrage on this issue, especially amongst those who lost loved ones.

"I think both leaders should be held to the same standard on this, and hope the Labour Group on the council will condemn the actions of both leaders, as I have.

"I await the outcome of the independent report next week, and will act accordingly on its' findings."