"I can appreciate people's frustration."
The Downing Street parties scandal continues as Rishi Sunak has admitted attending Boris Johnson’s birthday party during lockdown in 2020.
The Chancellor made the admission but refused to say what happened when he entered the room.
Mr Sunak also claimed he was there for a meeting to discuss the Covid-19 situation.
The admission came after Mr Johnson’s five aides resigned.
Mr Sunak acknowledged that the Downing Street lockdown parties have damaged the public’s trust in the government.
But he believes his plans to deal with the cost of living crisis would help restore it.
The PM is facing calls to resign but Mr Sunak insists that Mr Johnson has his “full support”.
Dismissing talk of him replacing Mr Johnson, the Chancellor said the PM had always been truthful about the parties.
He said: “Yes, of course he does. He is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.”
Asked whether the parties held in violation of Covid-19 lockdown rules damaged the public’s confidence in the government, Rishi Sunak said:
“Yes, I think it has. I can appreciate people’s frustration. And I think it’s now the job of all of us in government, all politicians, to restore people’s trust.”
As Mr Johnson faces pressure to step down as Prime Minister, some believe Rishi Sunak should replace him.
But Mr Sunak said: “Well, that’s very kind of them to suggest that. But what I think people want from me is to focus on my job.
“I know a few of my colleagues have said that and they’ll have their reasons for doing that.
“But I don’t think that’s the situation we’re in. The Prime Minister has my full support.”
Mr Sunak has been discussed as a potential successor, with a YouGov poll revealing a 46% approval rating.
It is reported that Mr Sunak and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss have been spending time seeking possible endorsements from their fellow Tories in the event that a leadership election comes to fruition.
Met Police officers are currently investigating a total of 12 Downing Street parties.
It is believed that the Prime Minister could have attended as many as six of those.
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