Boris Johnson faces a fresh wave of criticism today, after the Sunday Mirror revealed pictures of him appearing to host a Christmas quiz in Number 10 last year.
While Number 10 has confirmed the quiz was virtual, the prime minister is shown close to two other officials at a time when London was under tier 2 restrictions, which banned social mixing.
The story, broken by the Mirror’s political editor Pippa Crerar, is the latest allegation of Covid rule-breaking facing Number 10, following the release of a video showing staff joking about a “fictional” Christmas party while London was in lockdown in December 2020.
The clip, leaked by ITV News earlier this week, showed Johnson aide Allegra Stratton laughing after being asked about a supposed festive bash four days earlier.
Ms Stratton was due to helm televised press conferences from Number 10 before the plans were scrapped, and the recording was reportedly taken from a trial run of the briefings.
“This fictional party was a business meeting… and it was not socially distanced,” Ms Stratton laughed in the leaked clip.
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In tears as she read an apology outside her home on Wednesday, Ms Stratton said she had offered her resignation to the prime minister.
Earlier that same day, Mr Johnson told MPs in the Commons that he was “sickened” and “furious” over the leaked video, but that he had been “repeatedly assured that the rules were not broken”.
He added that he has asked the cabinet secretary to investigate the reports.
Alongside allegations of a Christmas quiz and a party, the Mirror claimed Gavin Williamson held a “reckless” bash at the Department for Education during restrictions last year.
The outlet also reported that staff at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) “drank into the night” in the private office of minister Thérèse Coffey – again, allegedly at a time when that sort of thing was not allowed.
Meanwhile the Treasury admitted that its staff held “drinks” in their office when the country was in lockdown in November 2020.
Ironically, after allegedly appearing as question master for a virtual Downing Street quiz, the Conservative Party leader has prompted more questions from the press and the public.
And in terms of the latter, definitely some anger, too:
What were the quiz questions pic.twitter.com/BUOLS9U9Y9
— Henry Dyer (@Direthoughts) December 11, 2021
You are the weakest link. Goodbye. pic.twitter.com/WoxgJUDE4T
— Hugh Grant (@HackedOffHugh) December 11, 2021
When Boris Johnson said ‘all the rules have been followed’ he did not mention they were the quiz rules
— davidallengreen (@davidallengreen) December 12, 2021
Put it another way. If a business had asked me to advise them in Dec 2020 on whether to run a boozy evening quiz with groups of 6+ together in the office with the boss running things on zoom I would have given them some quite robust advice on why that would be a bad idea
— Adam Wagner (@AdamWagner1) December 12, 2021
Last Christmas
— Pól Saoghar (@RandomCharStr) December 11, 2021
You hosted a quiz
And the very same day
I screenshotted away.
This year
To save us from tears
I gave them to Pippa Crerar.
Great scoop, but is anyone surprised? Johnson thinks rules are for we peasants, not people like him who set rules for we peasants. That’s a deadly mindset when he desperately needs us to follow his rules in a pandemic.
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) December 12, 2021
That’s also why his position as Prime Minister is untenable. https://t.co/aabFkGN5wd
Ah, the quizmaster himself. Here’s a question for you Prime Minister. Why did tens of thousands die alone in hospital, why did families watch funerals on zooms and why have 70,000+ been fined for breaking rules whilst you and your team had fun & games on their tax paying money? https://t.co/G0uy1KthjN
— Adil Ray OBE (@adilray) December 12, 2021
When politicians enact laws on the grounds of public safety, but then privately violate those laws, it's not just "hypocrisy" that's the issue -- it demonstrates that you do not personally believe in the necessity of the laws you enacted! https://t.co/KJ5XPYLZk8
— Michael Tracey (@mtracey) December 11, 2021
Responding to the latest reports, a Number 10 spokesman told The Mirror: “This was a virtual quiz. Downing Street staff were often required to be in the office to work on the pandemic response, so those who were in the office for work may have attended virtually from their desks.
“The prime minister briefly took part virtually in a quiz to thank staff for their hard work throughout the year.”
The Department for Education admitted to a “gathering”, with a spokesperson saying: “On December 10 2020 a gathering of colleagues who were already present at the office – and who had worked together throughout the pandemic, as they couldn’t work from home – took place in the DfE office building in London at a time when the city was subject to Tier 2 restrictions.
“The gathering was used to thank those staff for their efforts during the pandemic. Drinks and snacks were brought by those attending and no outside guests or supporting staff were invited or present.
“While this was work-related, looking back we accept it would have been better not to have gathered in this way at that particular time.”
Regarding the DWP claims, the Independent reports that a spokesman said: “Throughout the pandemic, DWP officials have followed Government guidance while continuing to deliver vital services for millions of people.
“Staff worked from home where possible but a core team working directly to the Secretary of State regularly worked from the office, in accordance with the Covid-19 rules as they evolved.
“The team regularly worked late into the evening and on a number of occasions they ate takeaway food and drank some alcohol. No karaoke took place.”
A Treasury spokesperson claimed to the Independent that the department “has followed Government guidance throughout the pandemic”.
They added: “We are not aware of any events in breach of Government regulations and the Treasury did not organise an in-person departmental party last Christmas.”
But separately, regarding the incident in November, they confirmed to The Times: “In line with the guidance at the time, a number of staff came into the office to work on the Spending Review 2020.
“We have been made aware that a small number of those staff had impromptu drinks around their desks after the event.”
Indy100 has contacted Number 10 for comment.
