Officials from 10 Downing Street have told the BBC's Panorama programme what they witnessed at parties held when lockdown restrictions were in force. Their anonymous testimonies are due to be transmitted tonight (Tuesday, May 24) - ahead of the publication of Sue Gray's inquiry into “partygate”, which is expected on Wednesday.
The episode from Panorama will feature evidence from three individuals who spoke to Laura Kuenssberg. They told her of bottles left on tables, overflowing bins, people crowded "shoulder to shoulder" and a culture encouraged by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
PA reports that Downing Street, when asked about the insiders’ claims, said there was a limit to what it could say before the investigation by Ms Gray has been submitted. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “I’ve certainly seen the report.
“You will appreciate, as I made clear this morning, that I can’t get into commenting on claims put forward given Sue Gray’s report has not been published yet. You will hear from the Prime Minister once that has happened, so I am limited in what I can say.”
The Mirror reports that the BBC programme contains five 'bombshell claims' about the goings-on at number 10. These are detailed below.
No10 was 'a mess' the morning after parties
One former official recalled coming to work the morning after a party, to find it "a mess". The anonymous insider said "there were bottles, empties, rubbish - in the bin, but overflowing - or indeed sometimes left on the table".
Sources previously told the Mirror ‘wine-time Fridays’ were scheduled into the electronic calendars of around 50 No 10 staff between 4pm and 7pm every week. ‘Wine-time Fridays’ were scheduled into the electronic calendars of around 50 No 10 staff between 4pm and 7pm every week.
They are a long Downing Street tradition used to help staff wind down at the end of a busy week. But the event continued well after lockdown restrictions were enforced.
Some No10 staff 'sat on each other's laps' at Lee Cain's leaving do
Sources previously told the Mirror lockdown-busting gatherings sometimes went on as late as midnight with up to two dozen aides drinking wine and beer and playing games like Pictionary. Speaking specifically about the leaving do the PM held for his outgoing comms chief Lee Cain, a No10 insider said there were about "30 people, if not more, in a room".
The insider added: "Everyone was stood shoulder to shoulder, some people on each other's laps... one or two people."
Staff 'drank night away and stayed overnight' on eve of Prince Philip's funeral
Government guidance at the time warned: “You must not socialise indoors except with your household or support bubble. You can meet outdoors, including in gardens, in groups of six people or two households.
But hours before the Queen sat alone to mourn her husband, No10 staff "sat around the tables drinking". An insider told the BBC "People stayed the night there", before noting they now accept what went on was "unforgivable".
Downing Street guard was 'mocked' for trying to stop parties
A Downing Street security guard was mocked when they tried to stop a full-blown party. An insider told the broadcaster: "I remember when a custodian tried to stop it all and he was just shaking his head in this party, being like, 'This shouldn't be happening'."
The insider claimed the custodian had become quite worked up, while "shaking his head" as he tried to stop it all. Another described working in Downing Street as living in "our own bubble" where the rules didn't really apply.
Boris Johnson was 'grabbing a glass for himself'
In January The Mirror reported that the Prime Minister encouraged aides to “let off steam” despite indoor socialising being banned under lockdown rules on 'wine-time Fridays'. Speaking to the BBC, an insider backed up these claims of Mr Johnson encouraging the culture. "He [Mr Johnson] wasn't saying, 'Can everyone break up and go home? Can everyone socially distance? Can everyone put masks on?'
"No, he wasn't telling anybody that. He was grabbing a glass for himself."
