The “dancing woman” in the Partygate video works as an aide to a Tory shortlisted to become his party’s London mayoral candidate, the Standard can reveal.
Malin Bogue is seen dancing in a red dress with Jack Smith, who works in Parliament for Tory minister Graham Stuart.
At the time Ms Bogue reportedly worked for Shaun Bailey’s mayoral campaign, which ended in defeat to Sadiq Khan in 2021, as did Ben Mallet, who is also seen in the video that was obtained by the Sunday Mirror.
Both Mr Mallet, who was awarded an OBE in Boris Johnson’s resignation honours list, and Ms Bogue work for Moz Hossain KC, the barrister bidding to secure the Tory nomination to run against Mr Khan in next May’s City Hall elections.
The Standard has learned that Ms Bogue accompanied Mr Hossain to the first Tory mayoral hustings, at the Queen Elizabeth conference centre last Friday night, including to the invite-only pre-event drinks.
She was heard telling people that she was working on his campaign, and uses a “mozformayor” email address. She is reportedly the daughter of a wealthy US businessman and previously worked on Boris Johnson’s campaign to replace Theresa May as Prime Minister in 2019.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer on Monday said the people seen in the video should face inquiry into their actions at the party, which was held during lockdown at Tory headquarters in December 2020. “I think they should,” he told BBC Breakfast.
A spokesperson for the force said: “We are aware of the footage and are considering it.”
Mr Bailey, who was handed a peerage in Mr Johnson’s resignation honours, was not seen in the video but had been earlier pictured at the party.
He had reportedly left by the time the dancing started.
Sir Keir said: “I think anybody watching that now will be astonished to learn that two of the people in the video were nominated for honours by Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak just let it go.”
The Evening Standard on Monday asked Mr Mallet whether Mr Hossain had asked him and Ms Bogue to step aside. There was no response when the Standard went to press.
Families bereaved during the pandemic have expressed fury at the video, which shows staffers drinking and dancing at CCHQ. At one point a voice is heard saying: “As long as we don’t stream that we’re, like, bending the rules.”
The event was held when indoor socialising was banned and people across the country were separated from family and friends.
Michael Gove, the Levelling-Up Secretary, described it as “indefensible”.
Former Justice Secretary Robert Buckland told Times Radio that people caught up in the party should decline their honours.
The Standard has learned that Ms Hossain’s campaign team includes a number of staff who previously worked for Mr Johnson or Mr Bailey, including Richard Mark, who worked as a parliamentary aide to Mr Johnson when he was Prime Minister.
