MP for Darlington, Peter Gibson, has issued a statement stating he is “appalled” at the news there may have been a breach and he “looks forward to the outcome of the full enquiry.”

Other North East MPs have called for “clarification” from Boris Johnson and Number 10 over the alleged Christmas party, and others have stressed “they completely understand the anger felt.”

Read more: North East Tory MPs break silence over alleged Christmas party in Downing Street

The leaked footage from Number 10s £2.6m press briefing room showed former press secretary Allegra Stratton laughing about an alleged Christmas party during the peak of lockdown last December.

Mr Gibson said those who broke the rules should be “subject to the same consequences any other person would face.”

He said: “I have been contacted by a lot of constituents in the last 24 hours with their rightly felt anger about an alleged staff party at Downing Street last Christmas.

“I am appalled at the news that there may have been a breach of the rules and following the statement from the PM today I look forward to the outcome of the full enquiry.

“If rules have been broken I expect those individuals to be subjected to the same consequences as any other person would face under those circumstances.

“As public servants we are not above the law.

Read more: Watch moment Downing Street staff LAUGH about party - as Boris Johnson under fire

“It is clear from the video that was published in the media yesterday, that those present in the mock press conference were out of touch with what the people of Darlington, and the rest of the country were going through at the time.

“Their clear lack of understanding of what families were going through is deeply concerning and this must be addressed.

“I welcome the recent news of Allegra Stratton’s resignation.”

Read more: Darlington's MP 'unavailable' to comment on Downing Street Christmas party scandal

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