Sir Keir Starmer says booting out Boris Johnson over partygate scandal 'in national interest'

Boris Johnson should be kicked out in the national interest, the Labour leader has said following fresh claims of Downing Street boozing in defiance of lockdown restrictions.

Sir Keir Starmer has further ramped up the pressure on the embattled prime minister arguing he had lost his moral authority and was too preoccupied in “defending his rule-breaking”.

He also argued the slew of “partygate” claims had added to people’s mental health stress.

What parties are alleged to have taken place in Whitehall and Downing Street during lockdown?

Sir Keir’s scathing criticism comes after the Daily Mirror reported that Downing Street staff held “wine-time Fridays” throughout the coronavirus pandemic and were witnessed by the PM.

It was claimed the regular events were so popular staff invested in a £142 drinks fridge to keep their bottles of white wine, prosecco, and beer cool, which had been fetched from a nearby Tesco Metro in a wheelie suitcase.

The latest accusations come after Number 10 was forced to apologise to the Queen following the disclosure of parties held in Downing Street on the eve of Prince Philip’s funeral.

Sir Keir, answering questions after a speech at the Fabian Society conference in London, said: “What we’ve now got to is a situation where you have a prime minister who has lost the moral authority to lead.

“And just when you need, because we are not out of the pandemic, a government that has that moral authority to lead, we’ve lost it with this prime minister.”