Boris Johnson would have known if a party was being held by staff in Downing Street, his former chief aide has said, despite allies insisting the British prime minister could not be expected to know what was happening in every room.
Conservative chief whip Mark Spencer insisted Downing Street staff “were not drinking alcohol” and partying during Covid restrictions after it emerged the British prime minister’s press chief addressed staff at one event last Christmas.
But Dominic Cummings, who left Downing Street in November 2020, said there was no way that Mr Johnson would not have known.
Answering questions on his paid-for blog on Friday, Mr Cummings said: “He knew but I think did not attend.”
But he said: “Tho remember the geography – to get upstairs he has to walk past that area where he could see it – if he was not Chequers…”
It is not clear which alleged gathering Mr Cummings was referring to.
However, it came as Downing Street said Mr Johnson retained confidence in communications director Jack Doyle after ITV reported he addressed up to 50 people and made a speech at the party on December 18th.
Mr Doyle was also under scrutiny over his attendance at the event on December 11th, during which the PA news agency understands he did present awards to the press team.
Asked if Mr Doyle had offered his resignation, the British prime minister’s official spokesman said: “Not that I’m aware of.”
Mr Cummings said on Twitter Mr Doyle was a “gonner” (sic) but predicted Mr Johnson would keep him on staff until after the UK cabinet secretary’s inquiry, then use him “as the sacrifice”.
He said: “Also there’s lots of pictures of the parties which will inevitably get out. And invite lists beyond No10, to other departments…”
Jack D is gonner but 🛒 will be thinking: 'not now, gotta keep him as the sacrifice for Case's inquiry then - Im shocked shocked I tell you to discover there was a party & I was misled - do a deal with Jack to keep all the wallpaper horror buried...'
— Dominic Cummings (@Dominic2306) December 10, 2021
Advertisement
The spokesman also said Mr Johnson retains full confidence in adviser Ed Oldfield after he appeared in the leaked footage that prompted former press secretary Allegra Stratton to resign.
Earlier, Mr Spencer insisted the British prime minister “will not have lied about any parties”.
The Sherwood MP told BBC Radio Nottingham: “I’m assured that everybody in that building played by the rules, and that’s why the Prime Minister has asked the Cabinet Secretary to do a thorough investigation to find out and establish the facts.”
Mr Spencer said he did not go to any parties in Number 10 and sought to explain how the British prime minister might not be aware of what was happening elsewhere in the building.
“When you describe it as a house, it’s a department of government, this is a huge, huge building, literally with hundreds and hundreds of offices and rooms. No single person could account for what’s happening in those buildings – they are huge buildings,” Mr Spencer said.
"Told people are furious after suffering a miserable Christmas under Covid restrictions," Mr Spencer replied: “And so did the Prime Minister, believe me, he also had a miserable Christmas dealing with all of this and dealing with the coronavirus epidemic, as many people did in No 10 working day and night trying to solve the challenges the country was facing.
“I’m told they were not drinking alcohol and having parties while that was going on.”
Asked if Mr Johnson should go if found to have lied, the whip said: “The Prime Minister will not have lied about any parties.
“My understanding is that there was no party, but we need to investigate that. The Cabinet Secretary will investigate it, and we will establish the facts.”
But Mr Cummings said Mr Johnson was being untruthful and added: “There were invites sent across Whitehall, it was an organised party.
“The trolley (referring to Mr Johnson) know this and tried to lie his way out but was fkd (sic) by the video.”
Asked whether the British prime minister has the support of the party over the saga, Mr Cummings replied: “Gone next year.”
Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer said the public “need honesty for this”.
Speaking in Hadston, Northumberland, he said: “I’d actually just like the Prime Minister to come to Parliament and be honest about it.
“We don’t need an elaborate inquiry.
“This is not, you know, some great mystery: ‘Did a party happen in your building Prime Minister, yes or no?'”
Meanwhile, Downing Street confirmed it had cancelled any plans to hold a Christmas party this year.
Number 10 previously said it was the intention to have a festive bash this year.
But asked on Friday, the British prime minister's spokesman said: “I think we’ve made clear since the latest situation with Omicron, obviously that’s taking up great deal of time at the moment.
“There’s no plans for that in No 10.”
Asked when the decision was taken, the spokesman said: “Following the decision on Plan B and the latest data that we’ve got.”
The UK cabinet secretary will investigate multiple allegedly rule-breaking events in Downing Street in the run-up to Christmas last year.
