Downing Street Garden Event Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Downing Street Garden Event

Andy McDonald Excerpts
Tuesday 11th January 2022

(2 years, 2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Michael Ellis Portrait Michael Ellis
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I think the hon. Lady is fair—I am sure she is fair—and I think she does clearly know that no disrespect is intended, but what she does not recognise is that what is also fair is the proper administration of justice, and one of the fundamental tenets of fairness, a pillar, is to allow investigations to continue. She wishes to prejudge; she wishes to cast stones before she knows what has exactly happened. The fair thing to do would be to await the result of any investigation that has been commissioned.

Andy McDonald Portrait Andy McDonald (Middlesbrough) (Lab)
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If ever there was a time to be candid with this House, it is now. I am asking the Paymaster General a question, not anybody else. He did not answer my hon. Friend the Member for Garston and Halewood (Maria Eagle), so I will give him another go. Has the Paymaster General been told whether the Prime Minister attended the Downing Street party on 20 May or not? If so, what was the answer?

Michael Ellis Portrait Michael Ellis
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I am not going to discuss in this House what private conversations take place between Government Ministers.

Andy McDonald Portrait Andy McDonald
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You have a duty to this House.

Michael Ellis Portrait Michael Ellis
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I know my duty to this House, and the reality of the matter is that the hon. Gentleman wishes to prejudge the matter. He is wrong to do so. It is not a matter for me—I am not conducting the inquiry—but a matter for Sue Gray. Sue Gray and her team will be investigating the matter and will come to the due conclusion. He should wait patiently for that. I think the predecessor question was about when that answer will come. I do not know the answer to that, but we have asked that it be done swiftly, and as soon as that is possible, it will be given.