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indy100

National

Daisy Maldonado

Downing Street officials are literally laughing about lockdown Christmas party

The footage was obtained by ITV News
(Picture: ITV News)

A recording of senior Downing Street staff laughing and discussing a Christmas party that allegedly took place amid Covid lockdown last winter has leaked - and people are furious.

This newly released footage shared by ITV News shows Boris Johnson’s then spokesperson Allegra Stratton appearing rather amused as she says there was “definitely no social distancing" at the party.

The recording dates back to a December 22nd rehearsal for televised press briefings, just four days after the gathering took place on December 18.

Boris Johnson insisted on Tuesday that No.10 staff followed all Covid rules, while chancellor Rishi Sunak denied attending the alleged bash.

Political reporter for ITV News Shehab Khan shared a clip of the 46-second leaked video on Twitter.

An @itvnews exclusive:

Footage shows Downing Street staff joking about a Christmas party on *18th December last year* during a mock Downing Street press conference.pic.twitter.com/IwG65o8JA6
— Shehab Khan (@ShehabKhan) December 7, 2021

In a follow up tweet he added, “Staff can be heard laughing and making references to ‘cheese and wine’, while Boris Johnson’s then spokesperson Allegra Stratton says there was ‘definitely no social distancing.’”

“The recording is of a rehearsal for daily TV media briefings, which were later abandoned,” he added.

When asked in the video by Ed Oldfield, adviser to the prime minister, if the Prime Minister would condone having a Christmas party Stratton chuckles before asking: "What's the answer?"

Another staff member chimes in, giggling and says: ““It wasn’t a party, it was cheese and wine.”

Still laughing, Stratton then acknowledges that the conversation is being recorded and says, “this fictional party was a business meeting and it was not socially distanced.”

This follows Boris Johnson’s refusal to deny that a large party was held that would breaking the regulations as well as further insistence from staff that a party was never held.

Since the leaked video was shared online, people have flocked to Twitter to express their anger with the British officials.

“All of the @Conservatives are bent, slimy liars. This video doesn’t surprise me. Corrupt back stabbers. @BorisJohnson shame on you,” read one tweet.

All of the @Conservatives are bent, slimy liars. This video doesn’t surprise me. Corrupt back stabbers. @BorisJohnson shame on you. https://t.co/S2KYdxkO4B
— Harky (@HarkyHarkster) December 7, 2021

Another user wrote, “Cancel Christmas for the people it governs, but not for themselves? Yeah, sounds about right.”

Cancel Christmas for the people it governs, but not for themselves? Yeah, sounds about right. https://t.co/cukq8wBQ7t
— Max R (@MRPPohjanmaa) December 7, 2021

“My already low faith just gets lower and lower each day. This is infuriating yet this shitshow of a government and their ability to break their own guidelines with little to no consequence has left me feeling cold. Like at this point what do we say? What do we do?” read another frustrated tweet.

My already low faith just gets lower and lower each day. This is infuriating yet this shitshow of a government and their ability to break their own guidelines with little to no consequence has left me feeling cold. Like at this point what do we say? What do we do? https://t.co/MVw5xXrQLL
— ♡ ElliXia ♡ (@ell_ellixia) December 7, 2021