News
Boris Johnson booed in Parliament as he insists no Downing Street Christmas party took place
Boris Johnson was grilled by MPs in a packed House of Commons this afternoon and insisted that the matter will be investigated
The Prime Minister has appeared in the Commons this afternoon to deny that any Covid restrictions were broken in Downing Street, or that any Christmas parties took place there last December.
Facing Kier Starmer at PMQ's, the PM apologised for the leaked video that has circulated showing senior officials laughing and joking about a Christmas party that reportedly took place whilst London was under Tier 3 restrictions.
However, he maintained that "there was no party and that no Covid rules were broken" whilst being grilled by MPs in Parliament this afternoon and insisted that an investigation will take place.
He also said that he ‘understands how infuriating it must be’ to hear of rules being broken by the people who set them in the first place.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer accused the PM of ‘lying to millions of people’ and ‘treating them as fools’.
Mr Johnson said: “May I begin by saying that I understand and share the anger up and down the country at seeing Number 10 staff seeming to make light of lockdown measures.
“I can understand how infuriating it must be to think that the people who have been setting the rules have not been following the rules.
“I was also furious to see that clip, and Mr Speaker, I apologise unreservedly for the offence that it has caused up and down the country and I apologise for the impression that it gives.
“But I repeat, Mr Speaker, that I have been repeatedly assured since these allegations emerged that there was no party and that no Covid rules were broken, and that is what I have been repeatedly assured.
“But I have asked the Cabinet Secretary to establish all the facts and to report back as soon as possible.
“It goes without saying that if those rules were broken then there will be disciplinary action for all those involved.”
Sir Keir Starmer challenged this statement, asking: “Frankly it raises more questions than answers.
“The Prime Minister, the Government, spent the week telling the British public ‘There was no party, all guidance was followed completely’.
“Millions of people now think the Prime Minister was taking them for fools, and that they were lied to. They’re right, aren’t they?”
He also quipped at ‘Ant and Dec are ahead of the Prime Minister on this one’, in reference to the presenters’ jibes made on I’m A Celebrity last night.
Featured image - Parliament TV
News
Kevin Sinfield will return to Leeds for his final 7 in 7 challenge in honour of Rob Burrow
Clementine Hall
Leeds legend Kevin Sinfield is set to take on his seventh and final 7 in 7 challenge this month.
The former Leeds Rhinos captain will begin 7 in 7: The Grand Finale next Sunday 27 September.
Wondering what on earth that is? Allow us to fill you in.
Sinfield will be running an ultra-marathon every day for seven days, and this time it's across the north of England including a special stop off right here in Leeds.
Not only that, but the challenge will bring Sinfield back to some of the places that have played a huge part in his rugby league career.
The route will visit all 12 English Betfred Super League grounds, starting at Hull KR before travelling through Yorkshire and eventually crossing the Pennines towards Manchester where Sinfield is from.
Here in Leeds, we can expect Sinfield to arrive at Headingley Stadium on Wednesday 30 September at 11:14am, before leaving towards Pudsey Civic Hall at 11:40am.
The challenge will then finish at Old Trafford on Saturday 3 October, where Sinfield will arrive ahead of the Super League Grand Final.
Since the first annual challenge back in 2020, Kevin Sinfield and his team have raised over £11 million for the MND community with six charities set to benefit once again from this years fundraising.
It's an amazing challenge for an amazing cause, and you can donate and find out more about the challenge here.
Good luck Kevin and the team, we know you'll smash it.
Read more from The Hoot Leeds:
Featured image - Wikimedia Commons
News
Channel 4 needs people from Yorkshire who think they can survive the apocalypse for a new TV series
Lydia Mastrolonardo
Have you always wondered how long you’d last in an apocalypse?
Well now's your chance, as Apocalypse is potentially coming back to Channel 4 for a second series, with producers having put out a nationwide casting call for contestants willing to take part.
The casting call simply reads: "Do you think you have what it takes to survive the end of the world?"
Described as a dystopian series designed to test the creativity, resourcefulness, and resilience of our nation, Apocalypse sees players are pushed out of their comfort zones and put to the ultimate test.
In the series, ordinary people are tasked with surviving for 28 days in an abandoned city - used previously only for the military to practice urban warfare - with no food, running water, electricity or heat.
Produced by The Garden - which is part of ITV Studios - for Channel 4, the show’s creators are now calling on people from Yorkshire with the 'courage and ingenuity' to compete, to get in touch and apply for the potential second series.
Does your mate always bang on after watching a post-apocalyptic film that they would’ve done things differently? Or is the news at the moment freaking you out and you want to give the end of the world a bit of a practice run? Either way, sign up, test that plan you’ve built in your head, and see if you’ve really got what it takes.
Applications are now open, and all you need to do is fill in a short application form and one of the production team will get back to you if they would like to proceed. Come on, let's prove what we're made of.
Applications close on Sunday 4 October 2026 at midnight, and you must be 18 or above, with a valid UK or ROI passport, to enter.
Find out more and apply here.
Featured Image - Matthew Salacuse / Channel 4
Georgina Pellant -
8th December 2021 
