SNP call on Boris Johnson to resign over anti-lockdown 'bodies pile high' claim

Downing Street has denied that Boris Johnson told Cabinet colleagues he’d rather see “bodies pile high in their thousands” than put the UK into another lockdown.

The Prime Minister was supposed to have made the remark at a crunch meeting last October when the prospect of reimposing restrictions was discussed.

No 10 said the claim was a “lie”.

Opposition parties say if there’s any truth to the reports, then the Prime Minister should resign.

The SNP’s Ian Blackford said Johnson had now “lied so many times it's impossible for anyone to trust a word he says”.

The Daily Mail quoted unidentified sources as saying that, in October, shortly after agreeing to a second lockdown, Johnson told a meeting in Downing Street: "No more fucking lockdowns – let the bodies pile high in their thousands."

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told Sky News: "It's not true - it's been categorically denied by practically everyone.”

He added: "We're getting into the sort of comedy chapter now of these gossip stories. You know, unnamed sources by unnamed advisers talking about unnamed events. You know, look,  none of this is serious.”

Reports of the remarks come after a weekend of fighting between Johnson and his former chief aide, Dominic Cummings.

The Tory leader also faces more questions about the redecoration of his living quarters at No 11 Downing Street.

The couple had contractors in last year to get rid of the “John Lewis furniture nightmare” inherited from Theresa May.

Under government rules, the prime minister is entitled to an annual £30,000 grant towards this work. However, the bill came in at just under £100,000.

The Tory party came up with a plan to set up a Downing Street trust to which donors would contribute for the work retrospectively.

Reports last week - backed up in an excoriating blog post by Cummings - said the party’s central office had solicited £58,000 from the millionaire Tory donor Lord Brownlow of Shurlock Row to cover the cost.

Cummings said the plan was "unethical, foolish, possibly illegal - and almost certainly broke the rules on proper disclosure of political donations".

If accurate, it could potentially be in breach of the ministerial code, specifically the rule regarding “an actual or perceived conflict of interest between their ministerial position and their private financial interests”.

If the scheme had gone ahead, the money could have been deemed as a benefit-in-kind.

Last Friday, Downing Street announced that Johnson had covered the cost of the refurbishments himself.

Britain’s most senior civil servant, Simon Case, the cabinet secretary, will likely be probed on the scheme when he appears before MPs later today.

He also likely be asked about the “chatty rat” leak investigation, launched after news of a second lockdown in England last October was shared with journalists before any official announcement.

In his blog, Cummings claimed Case had cleared him of being the leaker, however reports this morning have contradicted the Vote Leave adviser.

Whitehall sources have told the Times and the Telegraph that Case will make clear inquiries are continuing.

Cummings himself is due to give evidence to MPs next month.

Allies of the former adviser claim he has “boxes and boxes” of documents from his time in No 10, as well as some audio recordings.

SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford has called for a full independent public inquiry.

He said: "These comments are utterly abhorrent. If they are true, Boris Johnson has a duty to resign. The Prime Minister must now come to Parliament to give a statement, and face questioning, on these shocking claims and the growing Tory sleaze scandal engulfing Westminster.

"The public have a right to know what is going on, and why the Tory government has been handing out multi-million pound contracts, special access, tax breaks and peerages to Tory donors and friends.

"The difficulty for Boris Johnson is he has lied so many times it's impossible for anyone to trust a word he says. A full independent public inquiry is the only way to provide transparency and accountability. Those responsible must be held to account."

Scottish Labour Leader Anas Sarwar said: “This reported comment is repugnant and deeply distressing.

"More than 10,000 families in Scotland and 130,000 families across the UK are grieving the loss of a loved one.

"These alleged remarks have rightly been condemned by politicians from all parties, and I hope the Prime Minister reflects and apologises."

Lorna Slater, co-leader of the Scottish Greens said: "The latest comments attributed to Boris Johnson are heartless and disgraceful. If true they show a callous disregard for families all across the UK who have lost loved ones and underline that Johnson is unfit to be Prime Minister.”