Responding to North East Cambridgeshire MP Stephen Barclay saying Boris Johnson wouldn’t have known about the invitation to 200 people to attend a party at Number 10, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper MP said:

“These pathetic excuses are an insult to the British people who sacrificed so much while Boris Johnson broke the rules.

“It is inconceivable that the prime minister didn’t know what was happening under his nose, with rule-breaking parties organised by his own most senior staff.

“If the prime minister was truly sorry and wanted to take full responsibility, he would resign.

“Conservative MPs should stop defending the indefensible and finally force Boris Johnson to step down.”