The BBC Today programme presenter brutally shut down attempts by Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis to defend Boris Johnson. The Prime Minister was forced into an apology after admitting to having briefly attended a gathering at Number 10 while Britons were being asked to stay at home and limit their interactions to only one person in a public space. Nick Robinson said: "Why does he need hindsight, Mr Lewis?

       "What part of him did not understand, when he saw a garden full of people carrying bottles of wine and eating food off a trestle table...

       "What part of the leader of our country did not thing, as people were cowering within their homes, as people are dying in hospitals, as loved ones are unable to touch their own relatives and parents...

       "What part of the leader of our country did not recognise that was inappropriate?"

       The Northern Ireland Secretary insisted the Prime Minister was "very, very sincere" in his apology for what happened at a Downing Street drinks party during lockdown in May 2020.

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       Mr Lewis said: "He made it very clear that, with hindsight, he regrets doing what he did in going out and not just straight away telling the staff to go back in but thanking the team for the work they were doing.

       "He does recognise the anger and upset and frustration that people feel at what they perceive happened at No 10. He recognises that and takes responsibility.

       "Anybody who looks at what he said at the despatch box yesterday will clearly be able to see that was very, very sincere."

       The frontbencher also played down reports that Mr Johnson told Tory MPs in the Commons tearoom that he does not believe he did anything wrong and the Government is taking a hit for something it does not deserve."

       He added: "I haven't heard him say that at all. I wasn't in the tearoom. So commenting on tittle-tattle that may have come out of the tearoom I can't do."

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       In the Commons, the Prime Minister admitted he attended the May 20, 2020 gathering for around 25 minutes to "thank groups of staff" but "with hindsight I should have sent everyone back inside".

       He acknowledged public anger, saying: "I know the rage they feel with me and with the Government I lead when they think in Downing Street itself the rules are not being properly followed by the people who make the rules."

       Mr Johnson insisted an inquiry was examining the situation but accepted "there were things we simply did not get right and I must take responsibility".

       Downing Street refused to say whether his then-fiancee Carrie Symonds had attended the gathering, if Mr Johnson had noticed tables laden with food and drink or if he had brought a bottle of his own into the garden.

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       During the bruising Commons appearance, Mr Johnson apologised in various forms 12 times over the party - using the word "apologies" once, "apologise" seven times, and "regret" four times.

       Mr Johnson's press secretary insisted that he was not a liar and "he is not resigning".

       However, Scottish Conservatives leader Douglas Ross said Mr Johnson's position was "no longer tenable" and "I don't think he can continue as leader of the Conservatives".

       He told STV he had spoken to the Prime Minister on Wednesday afternoon "and I set down my reasons and I explained to him my position".