Newbury MP Laura Farris and North West Hampshire MP Kit Malthouse comment on Boris Johnson and Downing Street party controversy

Newbury MP Laura Farris has said that she "cannot defend" the alleged Downing Street parties, while North West Hampshire MP Kit Malthouse has supported the Prime Minister's right to remain in post.

Mrs Farris's comments come after Boris Johnson faced MPs in the House of Commons today (Wednesday).

There Mr Johnson announced that facemasks are no longer needed in any classroom, as Covid rules are relaxed in England.

Plan B measures, including mandatory face masks in shops and on public transport, working from home advice and Covid passes at some events, are due to expire next Wednesday (January 26).

Mr Johnson also said he didn’t expect to renew the self-isolation guidance when that expires at the end of March. He did, however, urge caution over the coming weeks.

The coronavirus statement to the House came just after Mr Johnson, who has been accused of misleading MPs about alleged Downing Street parties, faced MPs during Prime Minister's Questions.

That began shortly after Christian Wakeford, MP for Bury South, defected to Labour from the Conservatives - crossing the floor of the House to sit behind Labour leader, Sir Kier Starmer.

Mrs Farris told the Newbury Weekly News this afternoon (Wednesday) following Prime Minister's Questions that she shares the anger felt by many of her constituents.

She said: "I cannot defend the parties that took place and I don’t attempt to try. The rules were clear and unequivocal at the time and like all of you, I stuck to them.

"Many people in Newbury and West Berkshire made enormous sacrifices, sometimes at great personal cost.

"Stories of not seeing loved ones before they died or missing significant life events like weddings and graduations resonate deeply and people have every right to be angry. I share that anger."

She added: "The investigation will shortly conclude and I do think that everyone – whoever they are – is entitled to a fair procedure and the full facts made public to determine what action should be taken next."

North West Hampshire MP Kit Malthouse, who is also the minister for policing, defended the prime minister and urged people to “wait and see what the outcome of the investigation is”.

Despite some MPs calling for the prime minister’s resignation Mr Malthouse told the Newbury Weekly News last week that he supports the continuation of Mr Johnson in the post.

He said: “We should let the investigation do its job and publish its findings.

"The prime minister has already apologised for briefly attending the event, and wishes now he had sent everyone back inside to continue working.”