Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has called for Boris Johnson to resign over his attendance at a May 2020 lockdown party, describing it as 'indefensible'. The Labour politician expressed understanding of public anger, noting that people endured 'nightmarish' restrictions at the time.
Speaking to BBC Radio Manchester, Burnham said the prime minister's account of the event—where he claimed he believed it was a work gathering—'didn't stack up'. He argued that 'trust' and 'integrity' in politics were at risk if Johnson refused to step down, adding: 'There has to be action and politicians taking responsibility.'
Burnham, a former minister under Tony Blair, insisted he was not being 'party political' but stressed that all leaders should be held accountable. He accused the current Conservative government of being 'cut off' from the country in a Westminster 'bubble', with behaviour that 'would shock people'.
His comments were echoed by Conservative backbencher William Wragg, who called Johnson's position 'untenable', and Labour MP Charlotte Nichols, who said the prime minister must resign 'for his own respect and the good of the country'.
