Police have begun to issue a “first tranche” of 20 fines to people they believe took part in lockdown parties in Downing Street. There were 12 parties, leaving dos, “wine Fridays” and work meetings referred by Sue Gray, the civil service investigator, to the Metropolitan police. However, the police are not revealing which parties have resulted in fines. Here is a full rundown of the parties under investigation, and the broad details of all the claims we know about.
Events being investigated by police
1) 20 May 2020: ‘BYOB’ in No 10 garden
One of the more explosive revelations, after the publication of a leaked email to No 10 staff inviting them, during the first lockdown, to “make the most of the lovely weather” and attend drinks in the garden, adding “bring your own booze”. The email was sent by Johnson’s principal private secretary, the senior civil servant Martin Reynolds. The PM and Carrie Symonds, then his fiancee, attended for a time. Johnson apologised but insisted he only realised in retrospect it might have been a social gathering.
2) 18 June 2020: Cabinet Office gathering for departure of official
This is a claim that had not previously seen the light of day before Gray’s report, which describes it only as “a gathering in the Cabinet Office, 70 Whitehall, on the departure of a No 10 private secretary”. No indication whether Johnson was present.
3) 19 June 2020: PM’s surprise birthday
Downing Street has accepted that about 30 people, among them the interior designer Lulu Lytle, who was not a member of staff but was renovating Johnson’s flat, gathered to mark Johnson’s birthday in the cabinet room. No 10 say Johnson was there for less than 10 minutes. There was, reportedly, a birthday cake, singing, and picnic food from Marks & Spencer. The Northern Ireland minister, Conor Burns, later memorably defended Johnson, saying the PM had been “ambushed with a cake”.
4) 13 November 2020: No 10 leaving event
On the day that Johnson’s former chief aide Dominic Cummings was removed, there is a mention in Gray’s report of “a gathering in No 10 Downing Street on the departure of a special adviser”. As Cummings left abruptly, this seems likely to refer to the departure on the same day of Lee Cain, Johnson’s then head of communications. It is not clear whether Johnson attended.
5) 13 November 2020: gathering in Johnson’s flat
Sources have reported that on the day Cummings departed, loud music and other party noises came from the No 11 flat occupied by Johnson and his future wife, Symonds, a known foe of Cummings. Downing Street has denied any rule-breaking, and it is not clear who was there.
6) 17 December 2020: the Christmas quiz
An alleged social event took place in the office of the cabinet secretary, Simon Case – who was initially meant to have led the Gray report but stepped down after the claim about his own office. The invitation billed it as a “Christmas party”, but government insiders said it was a virtual quiz and Case only passed through the event on the way to his office. Johnson did not attend.
7) 17 December 2020: Cabinet Office leaving event for senior official
Kate Josephs, the former Covid taskforce head, has apologised for attending a drinks gathering to mark her leaving the civil service on the same day. She is now chief executive of Sheffield city council, where her future is uncertain.
8) 17 December 2020: No 10 leaving event
Another previously unknown gathering mentioned in the report. It says only: “A gathering in No 10 Downing Street on the departure of a No 10 official.” It is not clear who that was, or who attended.
9) 18 December 2020: No 10 Christmas party
According to witnesses, dozens of staff gathered for a Christmas party, with cheese and wine passed around, a mock awards ceremony and secret Santa gifts exchanged. This event propelled coverage of the parties after a video emerged of Allegra Stratton, the prime minister’s then press secretary, joking about it a few days later.
10) 14 January 2021: No 10 leaving event for officials
Another claim that emerged for the first time in Gray’s report. It is described thus: “A gathering in No 10 Downing Street on the departure of two No 10 private secretaries.” It is not confirmed who they were, or who attended.
11) 16 April 2021: Downing Street garden/first leaving party
One of the most damaging claims – that on the eve of Prince Philip’s funeral, where the Queen sat alone, two leaving events were held in No 10. The first, and seemingly less rowdy, was for James Slack, who was the prime minister’s official spokesperson under both Theresa May and Johnson, before becoming Johnson’s director of communications. Johnson was at Chequers that evening.
12) 16 April 2021: Downing Street garden/second leaving party
The second of the events, for a government photographer, reportedly began in the basement, with music played by an official. It is believed this is the event for which an official bought a suitcase full of wine from a nearby supermarket. The two events later combined in the garden, where one reveller sat on and broke the swing of Johnson’s infant son, Wilfred.
Events in the Gray report but not part of the police inquiries
13) 15 May 2020: gathering in No 10 garden
This was the event captured in a now famous photo shown to the Guardian, portraying a series of groups on the No 10 terrace and lawn, among them Johnsons, Cummings and Reynolds, sitting at a table with wine and a cheese board. The Gray report refers only to “a photograph showing a number of groups in the garden of No 10 Downing Street”, perhaps indicating that she did not hear from witnesses about it. Johnson insisted he believed it was a work event.
14) 27 November 2020: No 10 leaving do
For No 10 aide Cleo Watson. Johnson is known to have attended the event, remarking on how crowded the room was, before making a short speech and leaving.
15) 10 December 2020: Department for Education Christmas event
Gavin Williamson, the then education secretary, held drinks in his department for staff. The department’s most senior civil servant, Susan Acland-Hood, said she attended the “work-related” gathering in which people congregated in the canteen for Williamson to “say a few words”.
16) 15 December 2020: No 10 Christmas quiz
Johnson hosted the Christmas quiz in Downing Street, and was pictured on a screen reading out questions flanked by staff who wore tinsel and a Santa hat. Some staff joined virtually, but sources said others crowded around desks.
Events not in the report
17) 25 November 2020: Treasury ‘impromptu drinks’
The Treasury defended officials holding an “impromptu” drinks party to celebrate Rishi Sunak’s autumn spending review during lockdown. A spokesperson said a “small number” of staff had celebrated around their desks.
18) Before Christmas 2020: leaving event for defence adviser
The Mirror alleged that the PM gave a speech at a leaving event for his then defence adviser, Capt Steve Higham, in the run-up to Christmas.
19) 14 December 2020: CCHQ Christmas party for Shaun Bailey
A picture showed that an event hosted by the campaign for the Conservatives’ London mayoral candidate, Shaun Bailey, was held in Tory campaign headquarters, with buffet food. Police have looked into the gathering.
20) 16 December 2020: Department for Transport gathering
The Mirror said staff of the transport secretary, Grant Shapps, threw a Christmas party at which almost a dozen staff were “boozing and dancing” in a Whitehall office.
