New Downing Street party allegation to be investigated in official investigation

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Tuesday, January 11, 2022 1:09 PM

The email would appear to be the smoking gun that proves the Prime Minister was aware of at least one of the events, despite a series of previous denials.

New allegations that Downing Street hosted a lockdown breaking party for 40 staff in May 2020 will be investigated by senior official Sue Gray as part of a larger investigation.

Payor General Michael Ellis today apologized “wholeheartedly for the upheaval these allegations have caused” and that “if wrongdoing is established [in the probe] there will be necessary disciplinary action taken ”.

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Starmer tells Boris Johnson to stop lying about anti-lockdown Downing Street parties

A leaked email yesterday revealed that an invitation had been sent by the Prime Minister’s Senior Private Secretary, Martin Reynolds, to over 100 staff at Number 10, telling them to bring your own booze! at a party on May 20.

ITV reports that around 40 staff attended the event in the Downing Street Garden, including Boris and Carrie Johnson.

The government’s May 20 Covid rules prohibited people from meeting more than one other person from their own household.

The email would appear to be the smoking gun that proves the Prime Minister was aware of at least one of the events, despite a series of earlier denials following numerous allegations of the lockdown breaking parties.

Ellis was asked by opposition MPs today in the House of Commons about the latest revelation, with Labor Vice President Angela Rayner saying that “if the Prime Minister was here he surely knew…”.

Labor backbench Lady Angela Eagle joked that “maybe it would be quicker for Sue Gray to investigate the days when there were no parties in Downing Street”.

Ellis insisted he couldn’t comment further on the nature of the allegation until Gray gives the findings of his investigation.

“The government is committed to publishing the findings of the investigations and providing them to Parliament in the usual way,” he said.

“The terms of reference state that where there are credible allegations about other gatherings, they may be investigated. I can confirm at home that this includes the allegations relating to May 15 and 20, 2020. ”

It comes after a photo of Johnsons staff drinking wine and chatting in the Downing Street Garden on May 15, 2020 emerged last month.

Downing Street said at the time that the event, which the Prime Minister was attending, was a business meeting that only involved wine and cheese.

There seems to be a lot less wiggle room with the May 20 revelation when Reynolds’ email is factored in.

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Leaked email proves Downing Street threw an anti-lockdown party in May 2020

Reynolds, an official who runs Johnson’s private office, writes in the email: After an incredibly busy time, it would be nice to make the most of the good weather and have a socially distanced drink in Garden No10 tonight .

Join us from 6 p.m. and bring your own alcohol!

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