Tory MP says Johnson was ‘ambushed with a cake’ on his birthday

A Conservative MP's claim that Boris Johnson was "ambushed with a cake" at his birthday gathering held in Downing Street during lockdown has gone down a treat on social media after yet another day of high political drama.

Northern Ireland minister Conor Burns, a long-standing ally of the prime minister, told Channel 4 News on Tuesday evening that the gathering was not a "premeditated" party and that Johnson was working in the room before staff came in and presented him with a birthday cake.

"It was not a premeditated, organised party," he said. "He was, in a sense, ambushed with a cake."

The MP for Bournemouth West added: "They came to his office with a cake, they sang happy birthday, he was there for 10 minutes - I don't think most people looking at that at home would characterise that as a party."

Social media erupted with mockery at Burns' remarks. Nigella Lawson tweeted that the term "ambushed by cake" would make the perfect title for a recipe book.

In response, the minister said Lawson was more than welcome to use the name if she included his "Granny's Christmas cake recipe".

Lawson was unimpressed, responding: "This is too meta. Plus, you think it's a joke? Says it all."