The pressure on Prime Minister Boris Johnson has increased as it was revealed he reportedly attended another 'lockdown party' in the form of a leaving do for his defence adviser in the run-up to Christmas 2020 while the rest of the country faced strict coronavirus restrictions.
Mr Johnson is facing calls to resign over a string of lockdown parties at No10 and the Mirror reports that the "cowardly" PM looks set to attempt to shift the blame away from himself in a bid to save his job.
It is reported he may shift blame on to members of the civil service rather than take ownership of the scandal engulfing Downing Street, with those staff likely to face the exit door.
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It comes after fresh doubts were raised on the PM's claim he did not know in advance about the No10 "bring your own booze" garden party on May 20, after Sunday Times columnist Dominic Lawson wrote that at least two people had warned him the email invite to staff made it clear it was a party and should be stopped.
If true, this would take all credibility away from his apology for Partygate during Prime Minister's Questions last week, and mean he faces claims he broke the ministerial code by misleading the House of Commons.
Mr Johnson is also facing further pressure after his wife, Carrie, was photographed breaking Covid social distancing rules in September 2020.
Those in his team who could be singled out for blame include his PM’s principal private secretary Martin Reynolds – who sent the May 20 party invite – his deputy Stuart Glassborow and chief of staff Dan Rosenfeld.
But Mr Lawson’s claims suggest Mr Johnson knew more about the parties than he let on.
The- columnist said: “Last week I spoke to a former Downing Street official who said at least two people had told the PM, after seeing the emailed invitation from Martin Reynolds that this was ‘a party’ and should be immediately cancelled.
“I was told that Johnson’s dismissive response was to say they were ‘overreacting’ and to praise Reynolds as ‘my loyal Labrador’.
"I then asked someone who has known the PM for decades what could have made him take such an approach (other than natural hospitality and affability).
“His immediate answer was: ‘It’s because deep down he obviously thought the regulations were ridiculous, so why should he observe them?’”
No10 insisted: “It is untrue that the Prime Minister was warned about the event in advance.
“As he said earlier this week he believed implicitly that this was a work event.”
Mr Johnson is believed to have given a speech at an event to mark defence adviser Captain Steve Higham’s Downing Street departure before Christmas in 2020.
It is understood the PM was “there for a few minutes to thank him for his service” as a “small number of No10 staff briefly said goodbye”.
The MoD declined to comment.
The Mirror's revelation could give senior civil servant Sue Gray more material to consider as part of her probe into the Downing Street parties.
Tory chairman Oliver Dowden signalled civil servants would take the rap for the rule breaking parties.
He said: “The PM is determined to make sure that this can’t be allowed to happen and that we address the underlying culture in Downing Street. There were failings, we should have done better.”
His wife Carrie was snapped embracing a pal at a club in London at the friend’s engagement party. Guidance at the time included remaining two metres apart.
Carrie’s spokeswoman said: “Mrs Johnson regrets the momentary lapse in judgement.”
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