Downing Street Garden Event Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Downing Street Garden Event

Jonathan Edwards Excerpts
Tuesday 11th January 2022

(2 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Michael Ellis Portrait Michael Ellis
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I can only say that I leave others to make those judgments.

Jonathan Edwards Portrait Jonathan Edwards (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr) (Ind)
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This morning, I received an email from a constituent whose mother died from covid at the end of April 2020. The funeral was conducted via webcam in order to follow the rules. The family said that that meant they were not able to say a proper goodbye. My constituent says that the revelations have “destroyed” her. If the investigation reports that a party was held and that the Prime Minister, or other Ministers, attended, what does the Paymaster General think would be an appropriate political sanction?

Michael Ellis Portrait Michael Ellis
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That is hypothetical. It is not appropriate for me to make that judgment. It would not be appropriate no matter the result of the investigation. As a Minister in the Cabinet Office, my responsibility is to answer for Government business in the way that we have been hearing. What I am inclined to do is what I would do for anyone else, because we are all equal under the law, and that is to await the fair results of a fair independent inquiry.