Allegra Stratton: Watch Boris Johnson's aide resign as adviser over leaked video

Allegra Stratton, a senior government adviser and COP26 spokeswoman, has resigned following footage which emerged on Tuesday evening of her joking with Downing Street staff about a Christmas party.

Ms Stratton, in a tearful statement outside her home, said the leaked video had become a distraction and offered her 'profound apologies' for her remarks.

She said: 'My remarks seemed to make light of rules, rules that people were doing everything to obey. That was never my intention.'

Ms Stratton, who was most recently Johnson's COP26 spokeswoman, was his press secretary at the time the video was recorded in December 2020.

'I will regret those remarks for the rest of my days and offer my profound apologies to all of you for them,' Stratton was quoted by the Times as saying in a statement.

'This afternoon I have offered my resignation to (the) Prime Minister.'

She went on: 'Working in government is an immense privilege.'

'I tried to do right by you all, to behave with civility and decency and up to the high standards you expect of Number 10.'

She said she understood the 'anger and frustration' people feel.

'To all of you who lost loved ones, who endured intolerable loneliness and who struggled with your businesses, I am truly sorry and this afternoon I am offering my resignation to the Prime Minister.'