It was the hottest day of the year, the sun was shining with the temperature in the mid-20s, perfect for a get together – or so one of Boris Johnson’s top officials had obviously thought.
In an email, sent to more than 100 employees, on 20 May 2020, Martin Reynolds, the prime minister’s principal private secretary, wrote: “Hi all, after what has been an incredibly busy period we thought it would be nice to make the most of the lovely weather and have some socially distanced drinks in the No 10 garden this evening. Please join us from 6pm and bring your own booze!”
There was just one problem – the country was in lockdown. The gathering, believed to have been attended by 30 or 40 people, occurred at a time when social mixing was banned except with one other person from another household outdoors in a public place.
Staff quaffed wine and ate food laid out for them on tables.
Among those present was the prime minister, who is believed to have attended with his then fiancee – now wife – Carrie Johnson.
When details of the gathering first emerged, Johnson said he joined the event for about 25 minutes from 6pm to talk to and thank staff, believing that it was a work event, with the No 10 garden being used as “an extension of the office” amid lockdown.
It was an explanation that attracted howls of derision in the House of Commons, given the invitation to “bring your own booze”.
While the prime minister said he was not warned it was against the rules – and Reynolds was apparently equally ignorant, assuming it was not a wilful breach – some staff were more cautious. They feared they might be breaking the very laws the government had implemented.
“Um. Why is Martin encouraging a mass gathering in the garden?” one staffer said, according to the BBC. Another asked: “Is this for real?”
Johnson’s former aide Dominic Cummings, also claimed he raised a red flag at the time, saying he had told Reynolds that the invitation broke the rules. He said the prime minister’s principal private secretary replied: “So long as it’s socially distanced I think it’s OK, I’ll check with the PM if he’s happy for it to go ahead.”
Just minutes before the party started, the daily press conference held inside Downing Street had concluded.
The then culture secretary, now Conservative party co-chair, Oliver Dowden, had reinforced the messaging around what was permitted, saying: “You can meet one person outside your household in an outdoor, public place provided that you stay 2 metres apart.”
Dowden announced the launch of the Covid alert level system, with each of its five levels relating to the level of threat posed by the virus, with the country at the time preparing to move to level 3 from 4.
On that day, there were 9,953 people in hospital with coronavirus. A further 363 deaths were announced, bringing the total at that point to 35,704.
Dowden was not the only one highlighting the rules. The Metropolitan police told people in a tweet on the afternoon of 20 May 2020 that they could have a picnic, exercise or do sport outside providing you are “on your own, with people you live with, or just you and one other person”.
Have you been enjoying the hottest day of the year so far? 🌞
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) May 20, 2020
It is important that we all continue to #StayAlert
You can relax, have a picnic, exercise or play sport, as long as you are:
➡️ On your own
➡️ With people you live with
➡️ Just you and one other person pic.twitter.com/LAVe6DScQ5
The Met’s message was posted in apparent recognition that the hot weather would test adherence to the rules. But they could not have imagined that the transgressors they would be handing fixed-penalty notices out to more than two years later would include the occupants of No 10.
