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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
James Holt

Boris Johnson 'had a party' during first lockdown, according to reports

Boris Johnson 'had a birthday party during the first lockdown in 2020' it has been reported this evening.

This is despite the Covid rules banning all social gatherings indoors at the time, it has been alleged by ITV News.

The allegations made claim that Carrie Johnson, the wife to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, was involved with organising a surprise get together for him on June 19 in 2020.

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This was just three months after Covid restrictions were first announced to the nation.

It is understood that up to 30 people are said to have attended the event, held in the Cabinet Room behind the doors of No10.

Yet days earlier, Mr Johnson asked the public "to continue to show restraint and respect the rules which are designed to keep us all safe".

However Downing Street has responded to the claims today, saying that a group of staff gathered to wish the Prime Minister a happy birthday and that he was there for 'less than 10 minutes'.

ITV News has reported that the Prime Minister, born on June 19, celebrated with up to 30 people in his flat.

This is despite strict guidance stipulating that people were not allowed to mix indoors at the time.

ITV News also reported that on 19 June 2020, family friends were hosted upstairs in the prime minister’s home.

But Number 10 have denied this, claiming the prime minister only hosted a small number of his family members outside.

The reports come just days after No10 apologised to Buckingham Palace over alleged parties, one held just the evening before Prince Phillip's funeral where the Queen sat alone.

Approached for comment about the allegations, Number 10 responded to ITV News saying, “A group of staff working in No 10 that day gathered briefly in the Cabinet Room after a meeting to wish the Prime Minister a happy birthday. He was there for less than ten minutes.”

And responding to the claims about an alleged event later that evening in the prime minister's flat, a Number 10 spokesperson said, “This is totally untrue. In line with the rules at the time the Prime Minister hosted a small number of family members outside that evening.”

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