Boris Johnson hosted a lavish champagne reception - the night before Britain was plunged into a cost of living crisis, it has been reported.
The event is said to have taken place at posh Mayfair hotel Claridges on Thursday evening, where wealthy donors rubbed shoulders with ministers over glasses of bubbly.
The next morning, energy prices and taxes soared for millions of Brits already struggling to make ends meet.
And according to the Sun, Mr Johnson joked about Partygate at the bash - at the same time as the Metropolitan police began to issue its first fines over the scandal.
“I can assure you that you won’t be sent any questionnaires for attending this event," he reportedly told guests.
The Sun reported around 150 guests ate "fancy canapés" and swilled champagne as top Tories rattled their donation tins to fill their elections war chest.
The Prime Minister himself was not seen drinking alcohol, the paper reported.
Officials were yesterday handed the first £50 Partygate fines, reportedly relating to a leaving do during the first lockdown.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed this week that 20 fixed penalty notices would be issued over law-breaking gatherings in Downing Street and Whitehall during the pandemic.
Downing Street has said it won't name anyone slapped with a fixed penalty notice, unless the Prime Minister or civil service chief Simon Case get a fine.
No10 and Boris Johnson have so far refused to say laws were broken - despite police saying fines would be issued for Covid law-breaking.
