Boris Johnson faces further questions over a Downing Street Christmas quiz he hosted in 2020 - while most of the UK was under strict Covid restrictions.
Today the Mirror exclusively revealed a new photo from the festive meeting, which caused outrage when it was first uncovered last year.
The new picture shows the Prime Minister on-screen reading out questions. He is flanked by three colleagues, including one draped in tinsel, while another wears a headband with a Father Christmas hat attached.
At the time, Cabinet minister Nadhim Zahawi, who is Education Secretary, said the gathering couldn’t have been a party because no alcohol was present
But now the new photograph reveals a bottle of bubbly was present, as well as an open bag of crisps - ironically next to a full bottle of sanitiser.
Previously, sources claimed staff members gathered around computers to take part while drinking wine, beer and fizz.
As a result of the new picture, Scotland Yard said it would review its original decision not to investigate the gathering.
Here's a more in-depth look at that picture, which you might have missed, amidst the several occasions Downing Street staff allegedly flouted the rules.
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An open bag of crisps and bottle of bubbly
At the time, London had been plunged into strict tier two restrictions, banning two or more people from different households mixing.
The rules kept people away from loved ones and saw Brits robbed of the chance to say goodbye to dying relatives. But meanwhile, the new photo shows No 10 staff enjoying a bottle of booze and crisps.
The crisp packaging had been ripped open and was sitting, half-eaten, in the middle of the table.
When the Mirror broke the initial story, it didn’t go down well, unsurprisingly, with many who flouted lockdown rules previously slammed with heavy fines.
One man on Twitter poignantly wrote: “At the time this photo was taken, my mum a palliative care nurse, was being instructed to remove people on end of life care from hospitals to die alone in their home without immediate access to pain relief or medical help to make room for covid patients."
Christmas outfits
The mood is clearly festive, with two colleagues dressed up in Christmas outfits in front of a laptop. One has tinsel draped around his neck, while another is wearing a Santa hat.
The festive decor is at odds with the guidance - as many Londoners stayed at home, unable to attend their own festive bashes. In fact, many were forced to spend Christmas Day alone.
The Downing Street Quiz was not amongst the 12 events the Met Police is investigating - with Johnson previously suggesting they had decided not to take it further after seeing the evidence.
However, after the Mirror revealed the new picture, Scotland Yard said it would review its decision.
When asked at PMQs about the original photo released last year, the PM said the event had already been submitted for investigation.
The portrait of Margaret Thatcher
Looming forebodingly over the room is a portrait of former Prime Minister Margret Thatcher, who watches on as the PM and his pals enjoy their fizz, snacks and festive fun.
The piece was funded by an anonymous private donor and painted by Richard Stone, who previously also illustrated the Queen and the Queen mother.
Ironically, Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer quoted Thatcher during his scathing attack of the PM in the House of Commons.
He said: "Margaret Thatcher once said the first duty of government is to uphold the law – if it tries to bob and weave and duck around that duty when it is inconvenient then so will the governed."
The open bottle of hand sanitiser next to the communal bag of crisps
While no masks are worn in the photo, there is at least a large bottle hand sanitiser on the table.
The curtain in the corner - which many mistook for a CCTV camera being covered by a bag
On Twitter, people accused the quiz hosts of covering a CCTV camera with a bag.
However, photos from other angles show it's actually a curtain and it's always there.
Media lawyer David Banks pointed this out last year.
The strict restrictions Londoners faced
This isn’t in the picture but it is something that has to be mentioned. Londoners were under strict restrictions at the time, which banned two or more people from different households from gathering together.
Official guidance said no one should hold a work Christmas lunch or party which was primarily a social activity.
As barrister Adam Wagner told the Mirror today - the details of this photo suggests it is a Christmas party.
He added: "In light of the new evidence it now makes no sense for this gathering not to be investigated by the police given that an almost identical gathering in the Cabinet Secretary Simon Case's office two day's later is being investigated."
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