It was revealed that officials at Number 10 planned their Christmas lockdown party for up to three weeks prior to the event.
Around the end November, invitations to the event were posted on Whatsapp asking attendees to bring their secret Santa gifts for an exchange.
It is believed that the invitation stated that the party would take place on December 18th and there would be food as well as wine.
Details of the party, which is alleged to have taken place while London is under Tier 3 restrictions, will be used by Cabinet Secretary Simon Case in his investigation into whether breach of lockdown rules.
Last night, it was claimed that Jack Doyle (then the PM’s Deputy Chief of Communications) gave a “thank you” speech to approximately 50 guests at the bash.
Reports say that Mr Doyle, now Number 10’s most senior spin doctor, thanked staff working at No10 ‘like he does every week’. ITV News claims that Doyle also gave out paper certificates as part of an ‘additional awards ceremony’.
The response to allegations about the party has been managed by Mr Doyle. It has been seen that Number 10 denied it for at least a week, although the Prime Minster has mixed messages regarding it when she is asked.
According to The Times, Mr Doyle left the party in order to meet with Mr Johnson. There, senior officials discussed the possibility of cancelling Christmas for the nation. This announcement was made on the next day.
Case’s official probe will focus on two other parties as well – a ‘drinks and canapes’ event hosted by Gavin Williamson at the Department for Education on December 10, and a reported leaving event for a No 10 aide on November 27 that the Prime Minister was said to have attended.
It is not known whether the Cabinet Secretary’s report will also look into claims by Dominic Cummings, the prime minister’s former chief adviser, that a party was held in Johnson’s flat on November 13 — the day he unceremoniously walked out of Downing Street with a cardboard box of his belongings.
Special advisers will be expected to co-operate in the probe, but Case cannot compel staff to release WhatsApp messages.
It comes as Mr Cummings yesterday dragged the PM’s wife Carrie Johnson into the raging ‘partygate’ row by insisting Case ‘focus’ the probe on an alleged party on November 13, after he and ally Lee Cain had been ousted following an apparent power struggle with Mrs Johnson.
Advisor said that the leaving event, thought to be for Cleo Watson (a Vote Leave friend) was just someone “walking in the press office to bid bye” before the PM’s ‘bumbled into and began babbling.
He stated that the main focus should be on the actual party at PM’s Flat Fri 13/11″.
This is said to have happened at the invitation of Mrs Johnson’s close friends. However, Downing Street and her spokesperson deny that there were any violations.
The intervention came as the aide who joked about the Downing Street Christmas party in a notorious video refused to answer questions as he fled a media scrum.
Ed Oldfield was a former public schoolboy of 23 years. He kept his head down while he moved purposefully through Whitehall, being followed by a pack of journalists.
Last night, it was revealed that officials at Number 10 planned the lockdown-busting Christmas party for up to three weeks prior. Boris Johnson worked on new lockdown procedures to cancel Christmas. The party was said to have been held in one of the rooms where it took place.
Jack Doyle, Prime Minister’s Top Spin Doctor, was said to be a thank you speech speaker to at least 50 guests who were there for the Downing Street Bash.
Boris Johnson (left leaving hospital after the birth of his latest child) and wife Carrie (right arriving at hospital) are facing questions about a gathering at their Downing Street flat
Yesterday Dominic Cummings dragged Carrie Johnson, the PM’s spouse into the ongoing ‘partygate” row. Case demanded that Case focus the investigation on an alleged party in November 13th. This was after Lee Cain and Case were ousted from their apparent power struggle.
After Lee Cain and Dominic Cummings were ousted in an apparent power struggle, Dominic Cummings insists that another party should be the focal point of the investigation into Cabinet Secretary.
Journalists yelled out questions like, “Was Downing Street hosting a party?”Journalists asked questions like, “Was there a party at Downing Street?” and “Are you going to resign?” and “Have any other comments about the party?” before he gives up and walks away.
Mr Oldfield was heard on leaked footage joking about the bash with Boris Johnson’s former £125,000-a-year press secretary Allegra Stratton during a mock news conference.
Sajid Javid proposed this morning that an investigation of allegations regarding the Christmas party at No10 might be expanded to cover other claims.
He said that he received assurances from’senior officials’ that no Covid rules had been broken on December 18th by Downing Street staff, but it was up to Mr Case to conduct an investigation and find out if any lockdown-busting events took place last year.
LBC received this statement from the Minister of Cabinet: “If there were no rules, then it was impossible for a party to take place.”
“But, having an investigation by the Cabinet Secretary is the best response, because that is the person who can speak to anybody, gather the evidence, and determine the truth.
In the mock news conference video, Mr Oldfield asked: ‘I’ve just seen reports on Twitter that there was a Downing Street Christmas Party on Friday night – do you recognise those reports?’
Ms Stratton originally replied “I went home.” Then, she laughed and added, “hold on,” to which Mr Oldfield responded: “Would the Prime minister condone having a holiday party?”
She laughed and replied, “What’s your answer?” to which Mr Oldfield, also laughing, replies ‘I don’t know’, and another staffer suggests ‘It wasn’t a party… it was cheese and wine’.
Ms. Stratton resigned yesterday after a row about last year’s Downing Street Christmas party.
But it has now emerged that the December 18 event may have been only one of as many as six Whitehall bashes held in the run-up to Christmas – at a time when the country was under stringent Covid restrictions.
Ministers today set out the scope and purpose of the inquiry being conducted by Simon Case, Cabinet Secretary.
Michael Ellis, Paymaster General, confirmed that the investigation will focus on allegations of Christmas parties being held at Number 10 last December 18.
However, he said it would also review reports that there was a number 10 leave do on November 27, which is where the Prime Minister is believed to have made a speech.
In Mr Case’s report will be included a gathering held at the Department for Education by Gavin Williamson, then-education secretary. It was hosted on December 10, 2010.
According to the Department of Education, this event included food or drink.
Ed Oldfield was a former public schoolboy at the age of 23 and he kept his head low as he made his way through Whitehall. He was being pursued by a media pack.
Journalists yelled out questions like, “Was Downing Street hosting a party?”Are you going to quit? “Have any comments about the party?” before letting him go.
According to some reports, there was an alleged leaving party where the PM gave a speech and hosted a trivia night. There was also a celebration at the Downing Street Flat on Dominic Cummings’ departure from No10. It was also alleged that there were other parties at Tory headquarters as well in Whitehall.
The ‘raucous’ dos, at which several officials were said to have been seen ‘rat-a**ed’ on copious amounts of wine, have certainly left Whitehall with a lasting hangover as the events are probed by the Cabinet Secretary and the Met Police.
The Mail reveals all that is known about Whitehall’s activities while Britain was subject to sweeping virus rules.
TABLE GROANING WITH BOOTTLES OF WINES AND THE “CHRISTMAS PARK”
The tradition began at the end the corridor which leads to the legendary black door in 10 Downing Street.
Each Friday No10 officers would set out a bottle of wine on the table at the entrance to the hall.
In the wood-panelled press office – once used as Gordon Brown’s ‘war room’ during his time as PM – staff would toast the end of the week with drink at their desks.
Boris Johnson ordered Simon Case, Cabinet Secretary, to investigate claims that the Christmas Eve last year was a tense one.
WhatsApp messages, emails and other communications in the week prior to December 18 alleged that staff coordinated their plans.
In addition to the wine-filled bottles, there was plenty of food on the table including rich camembert cheeses and delicious baguettes. Officials gathered in the large room with a view of St James’s Park where there are chandeliers hanging from the ceiling to mark the close of an extremely difficult year.
According to some reports, 40 people attended this ‘unofficial Christmas bash’ with others wearing festive jumpers. Sources said most of those present were civil servants drawn from the press office and events teams, but special advisers – the PM’s political appointees – were also invited. One of the people asked was able to confirm that Secret Santa gifts were required for staff.
As the night progressed, other officials came down from different parts to attend. Yesterday, however, the press secretary for Prime Minister Johnson insisted that Mr Johnson wasn’t one of them.
She said that he was at work all night.
This event occurred two days after London had been placed in the most severe coronavirus restriction at that time. People were prohibited from mixing indoors with people outside of their support bubble or household.
The Government’s website said that, despite exemptions being granted for work, it was illegal to host a Christmas party or lunch at work unless that activity is social and not allowed by your tier.
Johnson and his ministers have maintained that there had not been a party and that the rules were being followed since last week’s news broke. After footage of Allegra stratton laughing about the incident, yesterday’s denials were impossible to accept.
THE “DOM’S GONE” BASH AT PM’S No10 FLAT
A party is also alleged to have been held in the Prime Minister’s Downing Street flat on November 13 – the day that Dominic Cummings quit.
The festivities are said to have kicked off earlier, with the leaving do for Lee Cain, the Prime Minister’s departing director of communications. It is believed that Mr Johnson delivered a speech on the occasion.
After clashes that saw them lose control of the situation with Carrie Symonds, Cain and Cummings both resigned. This event is facing questions over whether it breached the rules.
The party continued upstairs after Cummings, carrying a box of cardboard boxes, walked out from Downing Street.
Yesterday, on social media, Mr Cummings inquired if the investigation by the Cabinet Secretary into Downing Street’s pre-Christmas bash would include the “flat party” Fri 13 November as well as the other flat parties and the flat’s bubble policy.
The bubble reference is thought to refer to the decision to allow the PM’s then fiancee – and now wife – Carrie Symonds’ best friend Nimco Ali at No10 over the festive period ‘to help support and look after’ baby Wilfred.
Yesterday, Boris Johnson was asked if there had been a party on this date. He replied: “No. But I’m certain that the guidelines were followed and that the rules were observed at all times.”
With Carrie and Wilfred, Mr Johnson shares the apartment. According to a source, Johnson was said to be ‘always partying’ at the flat. One claim even stated that Carrie is ‘addicted’.
Yesterday, insiders claimed that staff at the press office witnessed guests climbing the staircase leading to the flat and heard loud music from the flat directly above. According to one official, they made the racket only possible at a party.
Mail was given names of six former and current senior Government officials, as well as others who are known to be closely connected to Mrs Johnson. When approached, however, many strongly refuted the allegations.
A spokesman for Mrs Johnson denied the allegations, saying that it was utter nonsense. Mrs Johnson is a coronavirus expert and has never been accused of violating them.
A spokesperson for the PM later stated that investigation into the November 13th party was not underway.
Following a power struggle, Mr Cummings left and is highly critical about the government.
A new poll published by Redfield & Wilton Strategies found almost two thirds of Brits believe Mr Johnson should resign if it is confirmed the party took place
CRAMMED CHEEK BY JOL’ AT LEAVING DO
On November 27, 2017, up to 50 people packed Downing Street in support of a leave-taking party. Boris Johnson, who gave a speech on behalf an outgoing aide at the event, is said to have spoken.
No10 staff reportedly crammed ‘cheek by jowl’ into a medium-sized room in what was described as a ‘Covid nightmare’ – while England was in its second lockdown.
The Daily Mail was told by a source that it had been an unplanned leaving party for Cleo, an advisor who served as Cummings’ sidekick in Downing Street. Due to her long legs, this aide has been nicknamed the “gazelle”.
It wasn’t even a Christmas party. According to the source, it was just a group of colleagues from one building who came together to bid farewell to an extremely popular employee.
“Was a drink taken?” Yes. Was the PM in there? Yes. Yes. It’s not true, but it is a bad look in retrospect.
Dominic Cummings claimed today that the November 27th gathering was a “red herring”, tweeting: “A staff member quit their job. Walked to press office to say bye, PM bumbled in & started babbling, everyone embarrassed, dispersed.’
According to a Daily Mail source, the occasion was an unexpected leaving party for Cleo Watson (pictured below with Cummings December 17, 2019, a Cummings adviser) who served as Mr Cummings’ sidekick throughout his tenure in Downing Street.
A BROKEN DOOR AT THE HEADQUARTERS AS TORY STAFF PARTY
There have been several reports that parties were operating in other departments of government, and even at ToryHQ.
The Times reports that last night, advisers from Conservative campaign headquarters hosted an event with Shaun Bailey (the party’s failed candidate for Mayor of London)
Bailey himself attended the party – at which people wore festive hats and he received a Lego set as a Christmas present from a donor.
About 25 people congregated in Westminster’s Matthew Parker St basement on December 14. London is now in Tier 2 restrictions.
According to some, the revelers at the “raucous” bash wore ‘festive headgear and danced and drunk which led to the destruction of a door.
Matt Hancock, then the Health Secretary, announced that the capital would be moving into Tier 3 hours prior to the party.
Last night, a Conservative spokesperson confirmed that there was an “unauthorised social gathering” in Matthew Parker Street basement and stated that “formal disciplinary actions were taken against four CCHQ employees who were seconded for the Bailey campaign.”
A FESTIVE QUIZ IN THE CABINET OFFICE
The Cabinet Office held a Christmas quiz for staff No10 at another date in December. It is unknown when the exact date was.
A source said that emails were sent to No10 asking them to join the quiz, and also to create teams.
The staff were reported to have worn Christmas jumpers to the office ahead of the event. They were not aware that it was absurd to organize a quiz in the midst of national lockdown.
Some people took part in the quiz through Zoom. However, some others sat with six other participants in real life.
Sources claim that Dan Rosenfield (the Prime Minister’s new chief of staff) took part in the event, and that it was the first meeting of many of his colleagues.
Yesterday Downing Street claimed that the quiz had been deemed ‘virtual.
PS… DON’T FORGET WILLIAMSON’S FRIENDS
Gavin Williamson, the then minister to Education at the Cabinet, gathered his officials in the canteen of Department for Education for a Christmas celebration on December 10, last year.
Williamson was said to have made a brief speech before the event’s ‘drinks & canapes’, where officials were able to’mingle’ with each other and drink wine. It was described as “reckless” by one source.
Yesterday, Susan AclandHood, permanent secretary, admitted she was at the event, where “drinks, snacks” were provided.
In a speech before the House of Commons, she said that around “two dozen” people were present at the meeting. It was initiated by former education secretary to show appreciation for staff who helped during the pandemic. She insisted that no outsiders were allowed to attend.
When she was asked about whether it was an organized event, she replied: “While it was work-related, we admit that it would have been more convenient not to gather in this manner at this particular moment.”
The department’s spokesperson said that the meeting was held in London’s DfE building at a time in which the city was under Tier 2 restrictions.