Councillor Henry Newman has not commented on claims he was at the ‘work event’

CLAIMS that a Conservative councillor was at the now infamous Downing Street garden party must be cleared up one way or another, the local Tories have been told.

In an open letter to Camden’s leader of the opposition, Oliver Cooper, the Liberal Democrats asked whether he still supported the Prime Minister – and whether he had enquired about reports that Councillor Henry Newman was one of the attendees.

The Daily Mail and others reported last week that Cllr Newman, a Downing Street aide, had been present and was seen talking to Boris Johnson’s wife, Carrie.

Cllr Newman has not responded to these claims. Lib Dem leader Councillor Luisa Porritt – who faces the prospect of going head-to-head with Cllr Cooper at May’s council elections asked in her letter what the local Tory group was doing about the claims that Cllr Newman was there.

“It is now incumbent on you to do the right thing – call upon the Prime Minister to resign and take any necessary action within your own group,” she wrote.

Cllr Luisa Porritt has written to the Tory group

The Tories have not responded to the letter and it is understood that Cllr Cooper will continue a long-repeated view that he should only concentrate on local issues.

Green Party councillor Sian Berry tweeted that she also thought Mr Newman should resign as a councillor – if it was proven that he was at the party. Cllr Newman is voluntarily stepping down in May after four years in the chamber.