In his first statement on the long-awaited final report on the "Partygate" affair, the British Prime Minister agreed with the finding that he bore ultimate responsibility for the actions at Downing Street.

Secretary of State Sue Gray, tasked with investigating gatherings there during the coronavirus pandemic, found repeated violations of the regulations in her report published on Wednesday.

She judged that the behavior at the heart of the government had clearly fallen short of the high standards the country had a right to expect.

Two hours after receiving the report, Johnson told the House of Commons that he was mortified.

He learned the lessons.

Now is the time to put the matter behind and focus on government priorities.

Gina Thomas

Features correspondent based in London.

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In anticipation of expected demands for his resignation for allegedly misleading Parliament, the Prime Minister defended himself against the often leveled accusation that he had lied to Parliament.

When he told the House of Commons that Downing Street Rules had been observed at all times, he "believed that to be true." Johnson claimed to be "as surprised and disappointed" by Sue Gray's findings as everyone else.

It is important to note that the investigations, over a period of approximately six hundred days in a five-story, 5,300-square-foot building, found only eight appointments irregular.

The farewell parties he attended were part of work and were therefore covered by the exceptions to the Corona regulations.

Johnson justified his presence as one of the essential managerial duties.

This includes thanking employees who worked extremely long hours during the pandemic for their commitment.

Johnson admitted that some of the meetings lasted much longer than necessary and were clearly illegal.

But he didn't know anything about the subsequent course of these parties, which, according to the report, were sometimes very lively, "because I simply wasn't there." Johnson expressed his dismay at some aspects of the behavior described in the report, particularly that disrespectful treatment of security and housekeeping staff, which Gray called "unacceptable."

In response to Johnson's self-defense, opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer questioned the prime minister's credibility and renewed his call for his resignation.

After the report was published, it was impossible to defend Johnson's statements in Parliament.

It's a question of trust.

Starmer accused Johnson of having a catalog of crime and said you can't be lawmakers and lawbreakers at the same time.

According to the Labor leader, the latest revelations proved that Johnson and his team had treated the victim of the British people with "extreme contempt" during the pandemic.

The opposition leader based his argument on the integrity of the government.

Sue Gray's account exposed the blight that had spread to Downing Street under Boris Johnson.

Starmer described the door to 10 Downing Street as one of the great symbols of British democracy.

Those who worked behind that door wielded great power, but knew they were only temporary.

However, the door and the democracy it stands for remains long after they have gone.

Starmer warned that the Constitution relies on Parliamentarians and the Guardians of Downing Street to act responsibly, honestly and in the interests of the British people.

"If our leaders failed to meet these standards, it's time to act."

He also addressed the Conservative MPs on the benches across the street, whom he urged to "stop this farce" and impeach Johnson.

Like the journalists at the subsequent press conference in Downing Street, some of them asked the Prime Minister uncomfortable questions.

The prime minister evaded the question of whether, as the Times has alleged, he tried to persuade Sue Gray not to publish the report.

A committee of inquiry will soon look into whether the prime minister knowingly misled parliament.

It is expected that this process will take longer.