Downing Street Christmas party row: RECAP: Boris Johnson announces Plan B measures in England as pressure mounts
Boris Johnson is set to address the public on coronavirus as ministers consider imposing new restrictions in response to rising cases and the spread of the Omicron variant.
The Prime Minister will front a press conference from Downing Street at 6pm on Wednesday, No 10 said, after considering measures including guidance to work from home and the introduction of domestic vaccine passports for events and large venues.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdLeaked footage from No 10’s £2.6 million press briefing room emerged on Monday night which showed former press secretary Allegra Stratton laughing as she appeared to rehearse answers to questions over a lockdown-busting Christmas party.
The video, which is reported to be from December 22 last year, refers to a party on “Friday” – which would have been December 18, the same day The Daily Mirror reported there was a staff party where games were played, food and drinks were served, and revelries went on past midnight.
You can follow the latest political updates in our live blog.
Politics Live: Boris Johnson holds press conference on Covid at Downing Street
BREAKING
Allegra Stratton has resigned from her government adviser role after a video emerged of her joking about a party at Downing Street alleged to have been held at the time of strict lockdown restrictions.
A man whose father died alone in hospital after being admitted on the day of the alleged Christmas party at Downing Street has said the week’s revelations have left him “crushed”.
Rob Kelleher said his father Bob, 88, was admitted to hospital on December 18 last year and subsequently died on January 10, without seeing a member of his family in person again.
Mr Kelleher said his 85-year-old mother Maureen and the rest of his family are reliving it all over again because of the news about activities in 10 Downing Street on the day his father was admitted.
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross conceded there was a “party of sorts” in Downing Street – adding that this was against the guidance in place at the time.
Speaking to STV News, he said: “I think it is right we need an inquiry, clearly what we have seen over the last 12 hours or so with the video footage emerging there are serious questions that need to be answered.
“There was a party of sorts, I don’t think we can get away from that, and therefore questions have to be answered why that was allowed as it was absolutely against the guidance this time last year.”
As a result, he said there were “serious questions to be answered around what happened this time last year”.
Mr Ross continued: “There was a party of sorts, I wasn’t involved, I wasn’t invited, I wasn’t there, but just looking at what we have seen since then there was a party of sorts and that was against the guidance.
“Everyone made sacrifices last year, people didn’t meet in the same way at Christmas time, they didn’t see their family as they would normally expect and they followed the guidance to the letter because there was this united effort to get through this pandemic.
“If people within Downing Street didn’t follow their own advice, then the appropriate action and strong action must be taken.”
A Tory backbencher has said it is “worrying” that the Prime Minister “doesn’t appear to know” what is happening in Downing Street.
Sir Roger Gale, who is MP for North Thanet in Kent, told BBC Radio 4’s World At One programme that Boris Johnson had been “blindsided by information he was given” regarding a Christmas party alleged to have taken place in No 10 last year.
“It’s worrying, isn’t it, that the man at the top of the tree doesn’t appear to know what’s going on in his own building two floors below him – I find that of concern,” he said.
Sir Roger added: “I don’t find it particularly attractive that the Prime Minister doesn’t know what’s going on in No 10 Downing Street, or doesn’t ask the right questions of his senior staff to find out what’s been going on in Downing Street, if something wrong has been going on. That’s worrying in itself.”
But fellow Tory backbencher Sir Charles Walker said he did not think the Prime Minister could be expected to “patrol every corridor and room in No 10”.
Ruth Davidson, the former leader of the Scottish Conservatives, tweeted: “None of this is remotely defensible. Not having busy, boozy not-parties while others were sticking to the rules, unable to visit ill or dying loved ones.
“Nor flat-out denying things that are easily provable. Not taking the public for fools.
“And today’s “we’ll investigate what we’ve spent a week saying didn’t happen and discipline staff for rules we continue to say weren’t broken’ was pathetic. As a Tory, I was brought up to believe in playing with a straight bat. Believe me, colleagues are furious at this, too.”
Downing Street would not confirm whether the people who appeared in the video of the mock press conference would face disciplinary action.
Asked whether those filmed would face sanctions, the Prime Minister’s press secretary said the Cabinet Secretary would “establish the facts”.
But when it was put to her that the facts of the video were clear, she added those carrying out the investigation would be “able to speak to any staff and access any information they need”.
No 10 was asked if the Government was confident that no other departments had held parties.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “I think we are confident that civil servants followed the rules as set out.”
Asked about BBC reports of a quiz event that allegedly took place in the Cabinet Office for No 10 aides at a similar time to the reported party last year, the Prime Minister’s press secretary said this was virtual.
The BBC reported that while some in attendance said there was an option to take part virtually, others had suggested there were groups in the room.
The PM’s press secretary said: “That was a virtual quiz.”