Downing Street insists “there was no Christmas party” in relation to a staff gathering in December 2020 at which drink was consumed, festive jumpers were reportedly worn and gifts were exchanged.
Here is a look at what happened and who said what about the event which took place during a coronavirus lockdown.
– December 16th 2020
London is placed under Tier 3 coronavirus restrictions, the highest level of curbs on freedoms at the time, with a ban on people from different households mixing indoors.
– December 18th 2020
Staff in Downing Street are believed to have held a Christmas party, with reports that dozens of people attended the event, some wearing festive jumpers and exchanging Secret Santa presents.
‘This fictional party was a business meeting… and it wasn’t socially distanced’
Video obtained by @ITVNews shows No10 staff laughing about a Downing Street party last Christmas
Watch analysis from @PaulbrandITV and @Peston on News at Ten
Full story: https://t.co/0ItROuHAv6 pic.twitter.com/ayBSl77oLS— ITV News (@itvnews) December 7, 2021
– December 22nd 2020
The British prime minister’s spokeswoman Allegra Stratton is filmed at a mock press conference answering questions about a Downing Street Christmas party. The footage did not emerge for almost a year.
– December 1st 2021
The Daily Mirror reveals the Christmas party took place, reporting that “officials knocked back glasses of wine during a Christmas quiz and a Secret Santa while the rest of the country was forced to stay at home”.
At the prime minister’s questions in Westminster, Mr Johnson said “all guidance was followed completely”.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: “Does the prime minister really expect the country to believe that whilst people were banned from seeing their loved ones at Christmas this year it was fine for him and his friends to throw a boozy party in Downing Street?”
– December 2nd 2021
UK business minister George Freeman says: “I can absolutely assure you that No 10 staff followed the guidance,” adding: “I can’t get drawn into who was or wasn’t in the room and who was drinking which cocktail. You’ll understand I wasn’t there.”
– December 3rd 2021
Tory chairman Oliver Dowden says: “My focus has not been on having conversations about what may or may not have happened over a year ago in Downing Street. I have, however, been assured by what the prime minister has said, which is that the rules at all times were obeyed in Downing Street.”
– December 4th 2021
The Metropolitan Police says it is considering the correspondence it had received in relation to the Christmas party and an earlier gathering in November 2020 which Boris Johnson reportedly attended.
– December 5th 2021
The UK deputy prime minister Dominic Raab says “if there was a formal party held, of course that is something that is clearly contrary to the guidance”, but insisted he did not know the truth of the reports based on “unsubstantiated claims all on the basis of anonymous sources”.
– December 6th 2021
Policing minister Kit Malthouse says: “I asked the question: ‘Were all the regulations complied with?’ I was reassured they were, I have to take that at face value. That’s absolutely what I’m sure is the case; it’s for others if they want to decide to take it further.”
– December 7th 2021
Mr Johnson says: “I am satisfied myself that the guidelines were followed at all times.”
Footage of Ms Stratton’s December 2020 mock press briefing is obtained by ITV News, showing the Boris Johnson’s then spokeswoman joking with colleagues about how to respond to questions about a Christmas party, suggesting “it was a business meeting … and it was not socially distanced”.
Downing Street responds: “There was no Christmas party. Covid rules have been followed at all times.”
The Metropolitan Police says the footage “will form part of our considerations”.
– December 8th 2021
UK Health secretary Sajid Javid is pulled from a scheduled round of broadcast interviews.
Mr Johnson faces prime minister’s questions in the Commons.
