SWINDON’S MPs remained stoic amid growing calls for the prime minister to step down as details of more parties held at Downing Street came out.

As the scandal rumbles on, the nation learned of two more staff parties held in Number 10 on April 16 2021, the night before Prince Philip’s funeral.

The Queen mourned her husband of 73 years alone at his funeral in St. George’s Chapel to follow the Covid safety guidance- but hours earlier, Downing Street staff had reportedly got together for two boozy social events.

Yesterday, the government apologised to the Palace, saying it was “deeply regrettable that this took place at a time of national mourning”.

South Swindon MP Robert Buckland was justice secretary in the government’s Cabinet at the time of the alleged parties.

He said: “I wasn’t aware of these events until these revelations and I have been shocked to hear about them, as have constituents who have been in touch with me.

“An apology was the right thing to do. The inquiry will establish the full facts and I hope that it will report very soon.” 

Prime minister Boris Johnson himself apologised in the House of Commons earlier this week for attending a party in May 2020 which he claims to have thought was a work event.

Shortly after the PM’s apology on Wednesday, the government’s North Swindon representative Justin Tomlinson told the Adver that Sue Gray’s “full, independent investigation” would look into the matter.

But some questioned how it could be independent when someone who works for the government is leading it.

He responded: “It is independent - Sue Gray has already ended three senior ministers’ careers. If she wasn’t respected, Kier Starmer would have been the first to say

"It is right and proper that an apology [from Downing Street] has been given."

Kate Josephs, the ex-director general of the government’s Covid Taskforce apologised for having a gathering in the Cabinet Office for her leaving drinks days before Christmas in 2020.

Swindon Labour mocked-up a letter for both Swindon MPs to send to 1922 Committee chair Graham Brady MP. At least 54 Conservative MPs must send letters to this committee to trigger a leadership challenge.

A Swindon Labour spokesman said: “He partied and lied while people died. It’s time for Boris Johnson to resign. But if he won’t, you must put your constituents over your career and force this awful man from office."

Neither MP wished to comment on this gesture.