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Downing Street party: No 10 staff joked about party amid lockdown restrictions | Downing Street party: No 10 staff joked about party amid lockdown restrictions |
(32 minutes later) | |
This video can not be played | This video can not be played |
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Watch: Video obtained by ITV News shows Downing Street staff joking about a No 10 Christmas party during a mock press conference | Watch: Video obtained by ITV News shows Downing Street staff joking about a No 10 Christmas party during a mock press conference |
A video obtained by ITV shows senior No 10 staff joking about holding a Christmas party - a party the government had denied ever happened. | |
The PM's then press secretary Allegra Stratton is asked by colleagues about reports of a party, as they rehearse a news conference in December last year. | The PM's then press secretary Allegra Stratton is asked by colleagues about reports of a party, as they rehearse a news conference in December last year. |
In jokey exchanges, she says: "This fictional party was a business meeting and it was not socially distanced." | |
Downing Street continues to insist no party took place. | |
The mock news conference took place in the government's new high tech briefing room at 9 Downing Street, on Tuesday 22 December, without members of the media present. | The mock news conference took place in the government's new high tech briefing room at 9 Downing Street, on Tuesday 22 December, without members of the media present. |
The rehearsal took place four days after the Christmas party, on 18 December. | The rehearsal took place four days after the Christmas party, on 18 December. |
PM under fire over No 10 lockdown Christmas parties | PM under fire over No 10 lockdown Christmas parties |
Kuenssberg: Playing by the rules? | Kuenssberg: Playing by the rules? |
Covid families 'sickened' by No 10 Christmas party | Covid families 'sickened' by No 10 Christmas party |
In the clip, leaked to ITV, Ms Stratton responds to questions from colleagues pretending to be journalists in a playful tone. | In the clip, leaked to ITV, Ms Stratton responds to questions from colleagues pretending to be journalists in a playful tone. |
Asked about the party she says "I went home", while one aide jokes that "it wasn't a party, it was cheese and wine." | Asked about the party she says "I went home", while one aide jokes that "it wasn't a party, it was cheese and wine." |
"Is cheese and wine all right," asks Ms Stratton, before adding: "This fictional party was a business meeting and it was not socially distanced." | |
In response to the clip, No 10 said: "There was no Christmas party. Covid rules have been followed at all times." | |
Labour leader Keir Starmer said: "The government broke the rules, they partied and now they're laughing." | Labour leader Keir Starmer said: "The government broke the rules, they partied and now they're laughing." |
He accused the prime minister of "taking the public for fools" and said he should "tell the truth and apologise". | He accused the prime minister of "taking the public for fools" and said he should "tell the truth and apologise". |
The SNP's Westminster leader, Ian Blackford, said the prime minister "must remove himself from office immediately" if it was true there was a Downing Street Christmas party that was not socially distanced last year. | The SNP's Westminster leader, Ian Blackford, said the prime minister "must remove himself from office immediately" if it was true there was a Downing Street Christmas party that was not socially distanced last year. |
Mr Blackford said the video was "damning and leaves the prime minister with a lot to answer for" while "every individual up and down the country was told to stay at home in order to protect the NHS". | Mr Blackford said the video was "damning and leaves the prime minister with a lot to answer for" while "every individual up and down the country was told to stay at home in order to protect the NHS". |
On the No 10 position, a government source told BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg: "This line won't hold. As bad as Cummings road trip for sure." | |
A senior Conservative told her the Owen Paterson affair showed the prime minister "didn't think the rules applied to his friends". | |
"This video demonstrates that's widely shared in No 10 by senior political advisers. People prevented by the gov[ernment] from seeing loved ones at end of their life will conclude they were taken for fools". | |
And senior Conservative Charles Walker said: "The No 10 party means that any future lockdowns will be advisory, whatever the law says". | |
The government has been under pressure about the party since it was first reported by the Daily Mirror last week. | The government has been under pressure about the party since it was first reported by the Daily Mirror last week. |
The Mirror said last year's official Downing Street Christmas party was cancelled due to restrictions, but staff held an unofficial gathering. | The Mirror said last year's official Downing Street Christmas party was cancelled due to restrictions, but staff held an unofficial gathering. |
Sources who attended later told the BBC that party games were played, food and drink were served, the party went on past midnight and that "several dozen" people attended. | Sources who attended later told the BBC that party games were played, food and drink were served, the party went on past midnight and that "several dozen" people attended. |
Asked about the party, Boris Johnson had said he is "satisfied" no Covid rules were broken. | Asked about the party, Boris Johnson had said he is "satisfied" no Covid rules were broken. |
But the Covid restrictions operating at the time banned such get-togethers. | But the Covid restrictions operating at the time banned such get-togethers. |
No 10 has refused to explain how party-goers complied, despite days of questioning by reporters. | No 10 has refused to explain how party-goers complied, despite days of questioning by reporters. |
Following the leak of the clip, one Conservative MP told the BBC: "This story is incredibly frustrating as we don't have official details either. | Following the leak of the clip, one Conservative MP told the BBC: "This story is incredibly frustrating as we don't have official details either. |
"I'm getting messages from my constituents, accusing me of being at the party... It's very difficult to respond in any detail because I don't have any and wasn't there. | "I'm getting messages from my constituents, accusing me of being at the party... It's very difficult to respond in any detail because I don't have any and wasn't there. |
"I'm not convinced this video moves things on, but it's the speculation that kills us." | "I'm not convinced this video moves things on, but it's the speculation that kills us." |
Another said: "We are all battening down the hatches... it's indefensible". | |
What were the rules on office parties in December 2020? | What were the rules on office parties in December 2020? |
Any party at Downing Street would have breached the government's guidelines at the time. | Any party at Downing Street would have breached the government's guidelines at the time. |
Its guidance for the Christmas period specifically said: "Although there are exemptions for work purposes, you must not have a work Christmas lunch or party, where that is a primarily social activity and is not otherwise permitted by the rules in your tier." | Its guidance for the Christmas period specifically said: "Although there are exemptions for work purposes, you must not have a work Christmas lunch or party, where that is a primarily social activity and is not otherwise permitted by the rules in your tier." |
The other question is whether it would have been illegal. | The other question is whether it would have been illegal. |
London at the time was in Tier 3 and the law banned gatherings of two or more people indoors unless it was "reasonably necessary" for work. | London at the time was in Tier 3 and the law banned gatherings of two or more people indoors unless it was "reasonably necessary" for work. |
There was also a specific prohibition on organising an indoor gathering of more than 30 people. | There was also a specific prohibition on organising an indoor gathering of more than 30 people. |
But there may have theoretically been a loophole for government buildings like 10 Downing Street because of the 1984 legislation used to bring in the tier system, according to Adam Wagner - a barrister at Doughty Street Chambers and an expert on Covid regulations. | But there may have theoretically been a loophole for government buildings like 10 Downing Street because of the 1984 legislation used to bring in the tier system, according to Adam Wagner - a barrister at Doughty Street Chambers and an expert on Covid regulations. |
Another barrister, Charles Holland from Trinity Chambers, tweeted that there would have needed to be an agreement with Westminster City Council for the regulations to apply in Downing Street. | Another barrister, Charles Holland from Trinity Chambers, tweeted that there would have needed to be an agreement with Westminster City Council for the regulations to apply in Downing Street. |