Ant and Dec mocked Boris Johnson’s Christmas party cover-up on last night’s I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.
Crew cheered as Declan Donnelly called Mr Johnson ‘the Prime Minister, for Now’ in a snide dig at the government’s handling on claims that despite being under lockdown last year, a party took place in Downing Street.
Ant McPartlin claimed that the I’m a Celeb stars hadn’t celebrated a camp leader change with ‘cheese and wine’.
The joke comes after Downing Street aides laughed as they branded their Christmas party a ‘business meeting’ to hide the fact it broke Covid laws, a new video suggested.
The fake press conference they attended was just days after their alleged December 18 event. It raised legal questions, and denied wrongdoing by No10.
As Dec made Dec refer to Mr Johnson as “the PM for now”, the crew of the show cheered behind him during his jibe about the government’s handling regarding claims that there was a party in Downing Street, despite Lockdown Measures last year
ITV news discovered the clip. It shows Allegra Straton (then the PM’s press secretary) and Ed Oldfield (No10’s head for digital), rehearsing in No9’s briefing room a question-and-answer session.
The celebs elected a new leader through a secret vote yesterday, according to last night’s I’m a Celeb Dec episode.
Ant added: ‘That means David’s reign is over but they weren’t celebrating. They didn’t have a party.
They deny that any party was held. And this fictional party definitely didn’t involve cheese and wine or a secret Santa.’
As Dec raised his dramatic eyebrows at the camera, he stated: “Evening Prime Minster, for now.”
As the cameras cut to the campmates, laughter broke out from the cast of The Show’s Crew.
In last night’s leaked video Oldfield asks a question about ‘a Downing Street Christmas party on Friday night’, to which Ms Stratton laughs and replies: ‘I went home.’
He asks Ms. Stratton if the Prime minister would allow such a party. She appears unsure of how to answer and then asks the group: ‘What is the answer?
Ant insisted the I’m a Celeb star stars had not celebrated a shift of camp leaders with ‘cheese wine and a secret Santa’
A third voice is heard saying that it wasn’t a party. Ms. Stratton then added, “It was a meeting… This fictional party was a meeting, and it was not socially distant.”
After Boris Johnson refused to answer any questions regarding the gathering, the footage was made public. Questions were also raised about whether the event violated the social distancing rules at that time.
On a visit in a London prison, he only said that all of the rules had been observed at the time. Others ministers refused to say whether a party took place.
Sir Keir Sterner responded to the video of Downing St aides laughing at the party by saying Mr Johnson must ‘come up and apologise.
The Labour leader said: ‘People across the country followed the rules even when that meant being separated from their families, locked down and – tragically for many – unable to say goodbye to their loved ones.
ITV News found the clip. It shows Allegra Straton (then PM’s press secretary) and Ed Oldfield (No10’s head digital), rehearsing an answer and question session.
It asks Oldfield a question regarding ‘a Downing Street Christmas Party on Friday night’. Ms Stratton laughs and replies: ‘I went back home.
Johnson did not confirm or deny reports that Downing Street members staged an event on December 18, last year, when London was subject to Tier 3 restrictions. Pictured: Johnson, who is leaving 10 Downing Street for the Foreign Office on December 15, 2020 in order to attend the Weekly Cabinet to secure social distancing
“They could expect the government to do the same.”
It is shameful to lie, and then laugh about it. Now, the Prime Minister must come out and apologize.
“It cannot be one thing for Conservatives and another person for anyone else”
In response to the footage, a Downing Street spokesman said: ‘There was no Christmas party. Covid rules are always followed.
The leaked footage was shot in the media room at 9 Downing Street, which was refurbished at a cost of £2.6 million in preparation for the televised broadcasts before the plan was ditched.
The Covid ban at that time prohibited parties. Although Johnson did not confirm or deny reports that Downing Street members staged parties on London’s Tier 3 restriction day of December 18, 2013, Johnson insists that there were no violations.
Dominic Raab, Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, reopened the party row. He said that it would be a violation of Covid rules if Johnson’s staff had held a party at Number 10, in the lead-up to Christmas last year.
Following the Times’ report that workers wore festive jumpers to work and were told by staff to bring “secret Santa” gifts, the PM insisted there were no violations of rules.
According to reports, they brought food and alcohol to the event attended by many colleagues.
While Mr Johnson’s official spokeswoman has stated that “there was no party”, the Prime Minister did not give any details during Tuesday’s visit at a London prison.
He stated that he could only confirm to reporters that the guidelines had been followed.
Yesterday, when asked about his visit to London’s prison on December 18, he said that all rules were observed at the time. Others ministers refused to say whether a party took place.
After the Times published that employees wore festive jumpers, and they were requested to bring secret Santa presents, yesterday’s PM said there were no violations of rules. Pictured: Last December, 30th 2013, the PM was seen returning to Downing Street.
When asked if Johnson had investigated, Johnson replied that he was satisfied himself that all guidelines were observed.
After Mr Johnson’s remarks, the spokesman added that “our position hasn’t changed”.
Last night, a number of grieving families lost family members over Christmas last year. They called it a “betrayal” of the families who abided by the rules.
Louisa Backway lost her father to prostrate cancer. He was not able to celebrate Christmas with his grandchildren and children.
She said that she now knows that her dad was unable to see them, that he could not see me when he was well.