Susanna Reid slams ‘gaslighting’ Government as Downing Street video mocking Christmas party leaks

Susanna Reid and Adil Ray have branded the Government ‘disgraceful’ while also accusing them of ‘gaslighting’ after a leaked video shows officials laughing and joking about a Christmas party which they have denied took place. 

Footage has been released of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s then press secretary Allegra Stratton answering questions at a mock press conference on December 22 about a party the previous Friday – the date of the alleged rule-breaking gathering last year. 

Addressing the controversy, Susanna said on Wednesday’s Good Morning Britain: ‘This feels like gaslighting where we know something happened, but we are constantly having the waters muddied. The spokesperson there says a year ago, what’s the right answer? Well, the right answer is that you say what happened.’

Adil weighed in: ‘Also Susanna, hundreds of thousands of people couldn’t hold the hand of their relatives who died in hospital while they were sat at home worried sick about the phone ringing to let them know that their father, their mother, their grandfather had died – as you mentioned, 600 people had died alone on that day.

‘The people who made the rules were partying and doing Secret Santa in Downing Street, the very institution of this country, it’s a disgrace.’ 

The presenters later admonished Government ministers for so far failing to show up for their usual daily interviews on GMB, showing an empty seat where they’d typically appear remotely.

‘We are still waiting for somebody from the Government to turn up today, aren’t we?’ Adil noted, to which Susanna replied: ‘We certainly are, the 8:30 slot is still available.’ 

Adil and Susanna were hoping to hold the Government to account – but ministers failed to show up (Picture: Rex Features)

Mr Johnson is facing pressure to resign over the alleged Christmas party (Picture: Getty Images)

Adil continued: ‘It’s not just us. Apparently most of the broadcasters this morning are still waiting for somebody from the Government, but if any Conservative MP, anybody connected to the Government is watching, and you would like to take your duty and answer to those people that lost family members. 

‘We’ll take anyone, anyone from the Conservative party, any MP who feels it is their duty to address the nation, address their constituents, address the 140,000 people we lost family members, who couldn’t attend funerals, who followed the rules and couldn’t attend hospital bedsides as people partied in Downing Street.’ 

He added: ‘If you would like to come and address those constituents we’d love to have you.’ 

Susanna also applauded I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here presenters Ant and Dec for ruthlessly mocking the controversy during last night’s episode of the ITV reality series. 

More: Boris Johnson

Number 10 has repeatedly insisted there was no party and that Covid rules had been followed at all times following reports one took place there on December 18.

Mr Johnson is facing mounting pressure to resign over the fiasco, while Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has called on the PM to ‘come clean and apologise’, adding that for aides ‘to lie and to laugh about those lies is shameful’.

Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV.

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