FOREST of Dean MP Mark Harper says he shares the "disappointment and frustration" of his constituents over the thought of Government officials - including the Prime Minister - breaking lockdown rules, after it emerged that multiple gatherings took place in Downing Street at times when such activity was against the law.

In his weekly column for The Forester, the Conservative MP said that it is "unacceptable" that those making the rules were not following them at a time when people across the UK were making "huge personal sacrifices".

The MP also said he will consider all the facts after studying the impending report from an inquiry into Covid breaches inside Downing Street and Whitehall when deciding whether action should be taken to ensure the country has "the leadership it deserves".

Prime Minister Boris Johnson last week admitted to having been present at a gathering in the Number 10 garden on May 20, 2020, which was attended by 30 people with around 100 invited.

The rules at the time said people were not allowed to leave their homes without a reasonable excuse - which included for work where working from home was not possible - and that you could meet just one person outside of your household in an outdoor setting.

But the Prime Minister told MPs that as the gathering was considered a "work event", it was technically within the guidance.

Mr Harper said of the Prime Minster’s admission that most people would conclude the event to be "a party", and described his apology as "unsatisfactory".

He also said he was "sickened" by the thought of Government employees "partying" the night before Her Majesty The Queen sat alone at the funeral of her husband, Prince Phillip, in April 2021.

He wrote: "Many constituents have understandably contacted me regarding reports of numerous parties at Downing Street. It’s right that I speak to you directly and address this issue head on.

"I share your disappointment and frustration at the thought of the Prime Minister, or any other Government official, breaking lockdown rules. It is unacceptable that those setting the rules were not following them at a time when people across the Forest, and the country, were making huge personal sacrifices."

He added: "The Prime Minister admitted to attending what I think most people will conclude was a party during the first lockdown when such things were against the law.

"In the days following the Prime Minister’s unsatisfactory attempt at an apology, I was sickened to hear reports of senior political appointees partying in Downing Street the night before Her Majesty The Queen had to sit alone at the funeral of her beloved husband. I know that many of you share my anger at these reports in particular.

"I am keen to read the report being prepared by Sue Gray, a senior civil servant with an impressive reputation for independence and integrity, which I hope will set out all the facts of the case. Once it is published, I will study the report with care.

"When we know all the facts, it will be up to every Conservative MP - me included - to consider what action needs to be taken to ensure our country has the leadership it deserves."

The former chief whip under David Cameron has regularly spoken out against the Government in the last year, most recently over the ’Plan B’ measures announced to limit the impact of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 in December.

The MP took to the floor of the house following that announcement to slam the restrictions, including advice to work from home where possible, which he said would cost the economy more than £800 million a week.

He also labelled the use of vaccine passports as "pointless and damaging", and questioned why anyone at home listening to the PM should do things that people working in Downing Street are not prepared to do, following reports that a Christmas Party took place there in December 2020.

He also opposed Boris Johnson’s much-criticised bid to save the then Tory MP Owen Paterson from suspension for breaching parliamentary standards in November, labelling its handling "one of the most unedifying episodes" he had ever seen in 16 years as an MP.

He then rebelled against his own party for a second time in three weeks when he voted against an amendment to the Health and Care Bill to cap social care payments at £86,000, which he said would disadvantage the less well off as they could lose a greater percentage of their assets.