‘Newcastle doesn’t accept Prime Minister’s apology’: MP blasts ‘stupid’ Boris Johnson

A Newcastle MP slammed a 'stupid' Boris Johnson as the Prime Minister faced questioning over Partygate in the Commons.

Mr Johnson was ridiculed by MPs in the Commons yesterday at the first chance since being fined for breaking Covid-19 laws.

The Conservative leader apologised: "As soon as I received the notice, I acknowledged the hurt and anger and I said that people had a right to expect better of their Prime Minister – and I repeat that, Mr Speaker, again in the House now.

"It did not occur to me then or subsequently that a gathering in the Cabinet Room just before a vital meeting on Covid strategy could amount to a breach of the rules.

"I repeat that was my mistake and I apologise for it unreservedly."

However, Mr. Johnson's apology wasn't enough for many MPs, both in his own and opposition parties, who called for his resignation.

One MP who slammed the Prime Minister was Newcastle-upon-Tyne Central MP Chi Onwurah.

Ms Onwurah said: "Many Newcastle Central residents have contacted me to share precious moments missed, charging me to hold the Prime Minister to account.

"They don't accept his apology because, Mr Speaker, you see, they thought long and hard about the difficult decisions they had to make, weighing up the huge personal costs versus the terrible consequences of spreading the virus.

"They made the right decision. The Prime Minister didn't, apparently because he is too stupid to understand his own regulations.

"If he is so much stupider than my constituents, how can he claim to lead them and the nation?"

In response, Mr Johnson said: "I thank her constituents very much for what they did throughout the pandemic and it's thanks to people up and down the country who followed the rule that we've been able to defeat Covid, beat it back like we have and I apologise for what I got wrong."