UK minister refuses to comment on leaked invitation to staff party during lockdown
Edward Argar, minister of state for health, refused to comment on the latest reports of this invitation, which was sent to more than 100 employees.
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A UK minister has said he doesn't "think it would be appropriate" for him to comment on a leaked email from one of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's top officials inviting Downing Street staff to “socially distanced drinks” in May 2020 -- when the rest of the country was in lockdown.
Johnson has faced controversy and anger over a string of allegations about government staff parties while strict Covid-19 restrictions were in place in the United Kingdom.
Edward Argar, minister of state for health, refused to comment on the latest reports of this invitation, which was sent to more than 100 employees.
“I don't know what did or didn't happen. All I've seen are the reports -- the email that was reported yesterday -- and various sources quoted by various media and journalistic outlets,” Argar told British broadcaster Sky News.
“That's why it's right that this is looked into independently by Sue Gray, and therefore it'd be wrong for me to comment while she's doing that and, equally, while we’ve heard, I think overnight, that the Metropolitan Police have said they're in communication with the Cabinet Office," he said.
"So, given those circumstances, I don't think it would be appropriate for me to comment on what she may or may not conclude, but let her get on with her job,” Archer added.
