Tearful Allegra Stratton quits amid outcry over video leak of her joking about Downing Street party скачать в хорошем качестве

Tearful Allegra Stratton quits amid outcry over video leak of her joking about Downing Street party

A tearful Allegra Stratton has stepped down from her position as adviser to the Prime Minister after a leaked video of her joking about a Downing Street party sparked outrage. Stratton broke down in tears as she apologised for joking about the strict rules amid the coronavirus pandemic last Christmas. She said in a statement: “My remarks seemed to make light of the rules everyone. That was never my intention.” “I will regret those remarks for the rest of my days and offer my profound apologies to all of you for them.” Mrs Stratton, who served as the spokesperson for the Cop26 climate summit, was filmed discussing a Christmas gathering during rehearsals for a proposed daily televised Downing Street press briefing. During the mock press conference, one aide was heard saying: “It wasn’t a party, it was cheese and wine.” “Is cheese and wine all right? It was a business meeting,” Ms Stratton replied, to laughter in the room. Ms Stratton then noted “this is recorded”. She added: “This fictional party was a business meeting… and it was not socially distanced.” The comments provoked a furious response, with Boris Johnson later forced to “unreservedly” apologise for her remarks. But he insisted he had been repeatedly assured “there was no party and that no Covid rules were broken”. Mr Johnson said he had asked Cabinet Secretary Simon Case “to establish all the facts and to report back as soon as possible”. Mr Johnson added: “it goes without saying that if those rules were broken then there will be disciplinary action for all those involved”. Subscribe to the Evening Standard on YouTube:    / @thelondonstandard