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Hi, I'm Anouche. I'm Alva. And I'm Steven. And on today's episode of the New

Statement podcast, we discuss Boris Johnson's position after the revelations of the number 10

lockdown garden party. And you ask us, is Labour right to speak positively about Tony Blair

and the new Labour government?

So we're recording the day after Boris Johnson did something he's been doing more of lately.

He apologised for attending the garden party at number 10 during the original lockdown

on 20 May 2020. Mr Speaker, I want to apologise. Well, I say apologise, but his wording

was quite careful, wasn't it? Number 10 is a big department with the garden as an extension

of the office, which has been in constant use because of the roll of fresh air and stopping the

virus. And when I went into that garden just after six on 20 May 2020, to thank groups of staff

before going back into my office 25 minutes later to continue working, I believed implicitly that

this was a work event. But Mr Speaker, with hindsight, I should have sent everyone back inside.

I should have found some other way to thank them. And I should have recognised that even if it

could be said technically to fall within the guidance, there would be millions and millions of

people who simply would not see it that way, people who suffered terribly, people who have

forbidden from meeting loved ones at all, inside or outside. And to them and to this house I

offer my heartfelt apologies.

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