Partygate: Met Police reopen investigation and launch fresh probe into allegations in wake of 'Jingle and Mingle' Christmas video

It follows new evidence including video of the Christmas party held at the Conservative Party’s campaign headquarters.

The Met Police has opened two new Partygate investigations and launched a fresh probe into events taking place during Covid restrictions.

Scotland Yard announced the move on Tuesday evening after assessing new evidence, including a video of the “Jingle and Mingle” Christmas party held at the Conservative Party’s campaign headquarters on December 14, 2020.

The other probe is into “potential breaches of the regulations at Boris event on 8 December 2020”, which is the date of an alleged drinks event attended by Tory grandee Sir Bernard Jenkin, who sits on the Privileges Committee that investigated former prime minister Boris Johnson.

Boris Johnson will not face further investigation under the probe.

The investigation was launched after claims emerged of Sir Bernard attending a party held by Commons Deputy Speaker Dame Eleanor Laing. London was in Tier 2 measures at the time, which imposed restrictions on indoor mixing.

Despite the new probe, the Met Police insisted a “number of other events” at Downing Street and the Prime Minister’s country residence Chequers would not be investigated further.

A Met Police statement said: “The Met … previously carried out an investigation into an event in Matthew Parker Street on December 14, 2020.

“Based on the information available at the time, that investigation did not lead to FPNs [fixed penalty notices], but outcome letters sent to some participants stated that ‘the Metropolitan Police reserves the right to revisit this decision in the event that further significant evidence comes to light’. The receipt of video evidence has resulted in the Met revisiting and updating the assessment.

“Following assessment of material relating to a gathering in Parliament, the Met is opening an investigation into potential breaches of the regulations at an event on December 8, 2020.

“The Met and Thames Valley Police have assessed material referred by the Cabinet Office regarding potential breaches of the regulations between June 2020 and May 2021 at Downing Street and Chequers.

“Based on an assessment of that material and an account provided regarding the diary entries, and also having sought some further clarification, the Met and Thames Valley Police have each assessed the events in their jurisdiction and concluded that they do not meet the retrospective criteria for opening an investigation.

“The Met and Thames Valley Police continue to reserve the right to revisit assessments in the event that further significant evidence comes to light. It would not be appropriate to prejudge the outcome of those ongoing investigations or to provide a running commentary on their progress.”

The Met Police has previously issued 126 FPNs following an investigation into claims of Covid rule breaching parties at Downing Street and Whitehall.

This include former London Tory mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey, who lost to mayor Sadiq Khan. He previously apologised "unreservedly" after a video emerged of his staff partying in lockdown and insisted he was "very upset" seeing the footage.

A Conservative Party spokesperson said: "Senior CCHQ staff became aware of an unauthorised social gathering in the basement of Matthew Parker Street organised by the Bailey campaign on the evening of 14th December 2020.

"Formal disciplinary action was taken against the four CCHQ staff, who were seconded to the Shaun Bailey campaign."