Grinning Rishi Sunak pictured 200 miles from London as Boris faced 'partygate' grilling
12 January 2022, 11:01 | Updated: 12 January 2022, 13:58
Rishi Sunak tweeted a grinning photo of his trip to Devon this morning – hundreds of miles away from where Boris Johnson was grilled over "partygate".
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The Prime Minister faced one of the biggest days of his time at Downing Street, with a PMQs showdown forcing him to break his silence over lockdown event allegations and apologise for attending a No10 garden do in May 2020.
After weeks of claims about get-togethers at No10, a leaked email apparently showing a senior civil servant inviting more than 100 Government staff to a "bring your own booze" party emerged.
Mr Johnson has now apologised for attending but insisted he believed it was a work event.
But before the PM took to the stand for his House of Commons questioning - and to issue a grovelling apology over the saga - Mr Sunak said he had travelled 200 miles to Ilfracombe on the Devon coast.
Excited to be in Ilfracombe this morning with @SelaineSaxby.
— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) January 12, 2022
Im visiting @PallCorporation who protect & purify pharmaceutical drugs including a majority of UK Covid vaccines.
They’re announcing £60 million of investment at this site creating 200 new local jobs #PlanForJobs pic.twitter.com/6EK1wT8U3E
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He was pictured smiling as he posed with Selaine Saxby, the Tory MP for North Devon, in the seaside town.
"Excited to be in Ilfracombe this morning with @SelaineSaxby.
"I'm visiting @PallCorporation who protect & purify pharmaceutical drugs including a majority of UK Covid vaccines.
Partygate: Caller 'missed May 2020' due to being on ventilator for month
"They're announcing £60 million of investment at this site creating 200 new local jobs #PlanForJobs."
While Mr Sunak looked to have enjoyed his trip to the picturesque town, his boss faced furious MPs.
On Wednesday morning, before his appearance at Prime Minister's Questions, Tory MPs urged Mr Johnson to apologise and be open about "partygate".
No Government minister was offered up for broadcast interviews ahead of PMQs, while his spokesman refused to comment.
An investigation into "partygate" is under way and it will also examine the May 2020 claims.
