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Defiant Boris Johnson refuses to quit as polls slip further

‘We don’t deserve’ criticism, Johnson told MPs
Boris Johnson said he thought that the party in the garden of No 10 was a work event
Boris Johnson said he thought that the party in the garden of No 10 was a work event
HOUSE OF COMMONS/PA

Boris Johnson defied calls last night for his resignation over lockdown parties in Downing Street as the Tories fell to their lowest poll rating against Labour in almost a decade.

The prime minister apologised to the public for the “rage they feel” over the allegations as he admitted attending an event in the No 10 garden in May 2020.

He said he believed it was a work event and that he had not seen an invitation from his principal private secretary for 100 staff to bring their own alcohol to “socially distanced drinks”.

Johnson and Starmer clash at PMQs

Tory MPs said he later told them in the Commons tea room that he did not believe he had personally done anything wrong and said that “we’re taking hits for something we