Boris Johnson’s full apology: sorry, not sorry, nothing to do with me

The prime minister came to the Commons today with a weak defence against lockdown-breaking Christmas parties, writes John Rentoul

The PM has his guard up (AFP/Getty)

Boris Johnson came to the House of Commons today armed with nothing better than a non-apology apology, a promise to get to the bottom of any mistakes that were made, and an insistence that if any of these events actually happened a year ago they were nothing to do with him.

Keir Starmer was almost regretful, as if he had hoped that the prime minister would put up more of a fight: “That’s so desperate, and even his own side can see it.”

The prime minister tried to take the question of the Downing Street Christmas party head on, before it was asked, and to absorb public anger by saying he shared it. He sounded like a disappointed parent, saying he was “furious” when he saw the video of his staff “seeming to make light of lockdown rules”.