Hours after Boris Johnson held a crucial Downing Street press conference during the first lockdown, one of his closest aides boasted that they had "got away with" their BYOB party.
In her highly anticipated report, Whitehall ethics investigator Sue Gray has demanded Boris Johnson "bears responsibility" for the culture that enabled rowdy behaviour to take place during lockdown parties across Downing Street.
The report shows insiders - most often ex-No10 Director of Communications Lee Cain - were worried about the gatherings.
Yet the parties went ahead anyway - and there are examples of staff then trying to hide the nature of them from the press.
Here are the WhatsApp messages exchanged between No10 officials of all levels, which showed they knew the rules but felt they didn't need to abide by them.
Bring your own Booze party
Martin Reynolds sent an email to around 200 staff across Downing Street urging them to "please join us from 6pm and bring your booze" because it was "nice weather ".
The party was first suggested by a No10 official who questioned if they should all try do to a "socially distanced drinks in the garden".
The No10 garden was booked for this event during the first lockdown, but a member of the internal events team warned: "Just a reminder about the press conference, so just be courteous with sound from 4-6pm."
Mr Reynolds then sent his invitation to staff which said: "Hi all,
"After what has been an incredibly busy period we thought it would be nice to make the most of the lovely weather and have some socially distanced drinks in the No10 garden this evening.
"Please join us from 6pm and bring your own booze!"
The invitation was also sent to No10 in the Covid-19 Coordination unit and senior officials.
A No10 special advisor forwarded the email to a No10 official involved with the Covid press conference taking place that day, urging them to be mindful that cameras will be around.
The same special adviser 'WhatsApped' Martin Reynolds stating: "Drinks this eve is a lovely idea so I've shared with the E & V team who are in the office.
"Just to flag that the press conference will probably be finishing around that time, so helpful if people can be mindful of that as speakers and cameras are leaving, not walking around waving bottles of wine etc."
Martin Reynolds replied "Will do my best!...."
During the press briefing, then Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden told the public: "You can meet one person outside of your household in an outdoor, public place provided that you stay two metres apart."
The following day after the BYOB event, a No10 special adviser emailed Martin to thank him for organising the events.
Mr Reynolds then boasted on WhatsApp: "Best of luck - a complete non story but better than them focusing on our drinks (which we seem to have got away with)."
Leaving party for No10 official
A riotous do was held in the first lockdown on 18 June 2020 for the departure of No10 official Hannah Young.
Lee Cain and Mr Reynolds spoke over WhatsApp about how they could organise a party for her. Ms Young was not named in the report.
Mr Reynolds said: “Is it safer to do a larger event indoors but with some people carrying on outside afterwards."
“I’m not sure it works at all to be honest, which would be a shame. I don’t see how we can have some kind of party though," Mr Cain replied.
“So you are saying nothing for [No 10 official (1)?,” Mr Reynolds replied.
“I think it’s your decision my friend, not mind (sic)! But it obviously comes with rather substantial comms risk," Mr Cain wrote.
Some brought pizza and Prosecco and Helen MacNamara - who was government ethics chief after Sue Gray - attended with a karaoke machine which was set up and used.
The report found “one individual was sick” and there was a "minor altercation between two other individuals" - something others have reported as a brawl.
The report said: “The event lasted for a number of hours. There was excessive alcohol consumption by some individuals.
At one stage at the party pizzas are ordered and a message in a No 10 WhatsApp group reads: “We’re in outer office of cab sec [Cabinet Secretary] with pizza.”
CCHQ Christmas Party 2020
In a WhatsApp message sent on November 27, 2020 a No 10 official wrote “hey team – do you want to participate in press office secret Santa?”.
The official followed up their message saying “spending limit £10” and a further message which read “we will do gift exchange and cheese and (lots of) wine on 18th Dec.”
Ms Gray's investigation found that the press office had brought in wine on Fridays to mark the end of the week during the pandemic - known as 'Wine Time Fridays'.
In a WhatsApp discussion staff talked about getting a fridge for the office - with one staff member saying "looking forward to a chilled WTF [Wine Time Friday]" while another wrote "depending on how full it gets we can put Friday's cheese in there."
Staff became so brazen they organised who’d provide which type of cheese over WhatsApp, according to the report.
