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Downing Street party: What were the Covid rules at the time? | Downing Street party: What were the Covid rules at the time? |
(31 minutes later) | |
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has apologised for a video where senior No 10 staff joked about holding a Christmas party last December. | |
Mr Johnson says he was "repeatedly assured that the rules were not broken" and has ordered an investigation into exactly what happened. | |
What's the row about? | What's the row about? |
The Daily Mirror first reported last week that a party took place in Downing Street last December. | The Daily Mirror first reported last week that a party took place in Downing Street last December. |
Downing Street insisted no party took place and that "Covid rules have been followed at all times". A number of ministers appeared on television and radio to repeat the denials. | |
But a source has confirmed to the BBC that there was a party on 18 December, with "several dozen" people in attendance. | But a source has confirmed to the BBC that there was a party on 18 December, with "several dozen" people in attendance. |
A video - obtained by ITN - shows a recording of a rehearsal on 22 December for Downing Street's proposed media briefings. | A video - obtained by ITN - shows a recording of a rehearsal on 22 December for Downing Street's proposed media briefings. |
In the video, the prime minister's then-press secretary Allegra Stratton is asked by colleagues about reports of a party. She jokes: "This fictional party was a business meeting and it was not socially distanced." | In the video, the prime minister's then-press secretary Allegra Stratton is asked by colleagues about reports of a party. She jokes: "This fictional party was a business meeting and it was not socially distanced." |
What were the Covid rules at the time? | What were the Covid rules at the time? |
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." |
This same line was also tweeted out by the official gov.uk account on 17 December 2021 in response to a question about whether Christmas parties were allowed in the workplace. | This same line was also tweeted out by the official gov.uk account on 17 December 2021 in response to a question about whether Christmas parties were allowed in the workplace. |
London at the time was in Tier 3 (it went into Tier 4 on 21 December) 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 (it went into Tier 4 on 21 December) 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 legal 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 legal 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. |
We have asked Westminster City Council to confirm whether this was the case, but they have yet to respond. | We have asked Westminster City Council to confirm whether this was the case, but they have yet to respond. |
Were there other parties? | Were there other parties? |
There are multiple reports of another party taking place on 27 November, which is understood to have been a leaving party for Cleo Watson, a former aide to Dominic Cummings. | There are multiple reports of another party taking place on 27 November, which is understood to have been a leaving party for Cleo Watson, a former aide to Dominic Cummings. |
Boris Johnson is reported to have made a speech at that event, mentioning how crowded it was in the room. | Boris Johnson is reported to have made a speech at that event, mentioning how crowded it was in the room. |
At that point there was still a national lockdown in force, which ended on 2 December. Indoor gatherings were also not allowed in lockdown. | At that point there was still a national lockdown in force, which ended on 2 December. Indoor gatherings were also not allowed in lockdown. |
Several sources have told the BBC about a Christmas quiz that took place at Downing Street around the same time as the 18 December party, with some people participating virtually but other groups present in person. | Several sources have told the BBC about a Christmas quiz that took place at Downing Street around the same time as the 18 December party, with some people participating virtually but other groups present in person. |
And the Department for Education has said of a gathering for staff in December 2020 with drinks and snacks that "we accept it would have been better not to have gathered in this way at that particular time". | And the Department for Education has said of a gathering for staff in December 2020 with drinks and snacks that "we accept it would have been better not to have gathered in this way at that particular time". |
What happened to people who broke the rules? | What happened to people who broke the rules? |
Thousands of of people were fined for breaking rules on gatherings last year, according to figures from the National Police Chiefs' Council. | Thousands of of people were fined for breaking rules on gatherings last year, according to figures from the National Police Chiefs' Council. |
Between March 2020 and January 2021: | Between March 2020 and January 2021: |
2,982 fines were issued in England for participating in a gathering inside a house or any indoor space in a Tier 3 area. | 2,982 fines were issued in England for participating in a gathering inside a house or any indoor space in a Tier 3 area. |
250 fines were issued in England for holding a gathering of more than 30 people | 250 fines were issued in England for holding a gathering of more than 30 people |
At the time, large parties could be shut down by the police - with fines of up to £10,000. Examples include: | At the time, large parties could be shut down by the police - with fines of up to £10,000. Examples include: |
The organiser of a party in High Wycombe, attended by about 200 people, was fined last December | The organiser of a party in High Wycombe, attended by about 200 people, was fined last December |
More than 100 people attended a party in Northampton, also in December. The organiser was given a £10,000 fine | More than 100 people attended a party in Northampton, also in December. The organiser was given a £10,000 fine |
In February, a woman was fined £10,000 for organising a birthday party, attended by more than 30 people in Ormskirk | In February, a woman was fined £10,000 for organising a birthday party, attended by more than 30 people in Ormskirk |
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Read more from Reality Check | Read more from Reality Check |