THE Conservative candidate for the North Shropshire by-election says he expects disciplinary action by Boris Johnson if the 2020 Downing Street Christmas party took place and broke rules.

Reports of the party taking place while London was in Tier Three restrictions, meaning large gatherings were not allowed, emerged last week before footage was leaked to ITN News of the Prime Minister's press spokesman Allegra Stratton joking about attending the event.

This led to Mr Johnson giving an apology for the video at Prime Minister's Questions, but still denied the party took place at his official residence, and said an investigation will begin.

Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst, who is bidding to replace Owen Paterson, who resigned after breaking lobbying rules, said he backed the Prime Minister to hold up 'public service standards'.

He said: “The Prime Minister has set up an investigation and confirmed that if there was any misconduct it will be treated with the disciplinary action we would all expect to see.

"As someone who volunteered for the NHS during the Covid pandemic and served in the British Army I take following the rules very seriously and I believe in the highest standards of public service are important.”

The emergence of the leaked video has caused anger across all political parties, including Conservative backbenchers, but Mr Johnson once again denied it took place.

The North Shropshire by-election will take place on Thursday, December 16.