Councillor Jane Ashworth OBE has written to Councillor Abi Brown requesting she publicly condemn the Prime Minister and call for him to resign over the series of drinks events held in the Downing Street garden in May 2020 and in April 2021, the night before the funeral of Prince Philip and as the country remained in lockdown.

In the letter, Councillor Ashworth said that “this contemptible behaviour must be called out, regardless of political persuasion”, and cited the anger that all the residents of Stoke-on-Trent are feeling as a result of the party. Despite Boris Johnson’s “apology” at Prime Minister’s Questions many questions remain unanswered.

Councillor Ashworth also said “Whilst attendees of the Prime Minister’s parties were waking up with a headache and a sore throat, Her Majesty sat alone at her late husband’s funeral, following the rules and doing the right thing. It is absolutely sickening that the Prime Minister would allow these parties to occur.

Commenting on the letter, Councillor Ashworth said:

“People across Stoke-on-Trent pulled together and did all they could to protect lives and livelihoods as we came through some of the darkest months of the pandemic, and some of the worst times many of us have lived through.

“Bereaved families, our selfless key workers and all those who diligently followed the rules have been mocked by Boris Johnson. He continues to take the British people for fools, and we have had enough of it.

“We don’t need an enquiry from Sue Gray to tell us that the Prime Minister, yet again, thought that the rules don’t apply to him. Whether it be soliciting donations to pay for his wallpaper or wasting taxpayers’ hard-earned money on contracts for his mates, we have seen time and time again that Johnson doesn’t think he has to follow the rules. It’s unacceptable and we must be very clear that it will not be tolerated. The British people and the people of Stoke-on-Trent have had enough.

“It seems that every day, we hear about yet another party, another time the Prime Minister chose to break the rules he himself made. The Prime Minister cannot be trusted; he has lied to the British people time and time again, and has treated us all with contempt. He doesn’t have the authority to lead and he must offer his resignation – and a sincere apology – to Her Majesty The Queen.

“Councillor Brown must choose – is she on the side of those Stokies who followed the rules to protect the NHS and save lives, or on the side of the out of touch Tory Government who treat them with contempt? I hope she will do the right thing and condemn the Prime Minister unequivocally and call for his immediate resignation.”