According to reports, officials at 10 Downing Street are in panic over additional recordings by Boris Johnson’s ex-spokeswoman Allegra Ston which include answers to questions regarding the Prime Minister’s personal lives.
Ms Stratton’s now-infamous mock press conference, filmed in December last year, showed Downing Street staff joking about holding a Christmas party in No 10 which ‘was not socially distanced’ – after a week of denials that any party had taken place.
This forced Johnson to a shameful Commons apology. It also led Ms Stratton to tearfully resign from her doorstep.
Officials from 10 Downing Street appear to be panicked over the recordings that Boris Johnson’s former spokeswoman AllegraStratton made. The recordings include Allegra’s responses to questions concerning the Prime Minister. Above Allegra Stratton at the fake press conference which led to her resignation. Allegra Stratton, former spokesperson, has “gone to ground”.
Ms Stratton was humiliated by Mr Johnson’s mock press conference, which led to Ms Stratton calling it quits and contributing to the decline of 23,000 Tory votes at the North Shropshire By-election.
Former and current staff at No. 10 worry that more damning tapes might be out there, with embarrassing material even for the Prime Minster.
Sunday’s Mail report was based on a source who said that mock questions were asked to Ms. Stratton during the recording sessions. These questions covered Mr Johnson’s’mistresses’ and ‘love kids’.
Source said that Allegra knew she was being asked more questions than the single one we’ve all seen.
“She feels very anxious, and she has completely gone to the ground. She is not speaking to anyone.
“She, along with her ex-colleagues in Downing Street, have made it clear that they are the ones responsible for the leak.
They believe the confidentiality agreement was breached.
They live in fear each day, knowing that they will be asked the same questions again.
They feel that any further breaches would not be in the public’s best interests and they can’t stop them. They wait like sitting ducks. It is an exaggeration to say that they are at tenterhooks.
Above: Ms. Stratton tells the world that she will be resigning in early December. Current and former No 10 employees fear further damaging tapes might be available, which could include embarrassing material about the Prime Minister. According to a source, the tapes included mock questions directed at Ms Stratton, referring both to Mr Johnson’s’mistresses’ and ‘love kids’.
Source added that the worst was yet to come. Others mock scenarios featured questions about Boris’s mistresses as well as his kids.
Brace yourself, ‘No 10, They are absolutely s******* themselves about what else is around – and Allegra is too.
“She is able to answer the question and give her answers.
‘That was not a failing on the part of the teams involved in the process – they would not be doing their jobs properly if they hadn’t worked out what the most difficult questions were likely to be and prepared for them.
Source added that the worst was yet to come. Others mock scenarios featured questions about Boris’s mistresses as well as his kids. Brace yourself, no 10! They are absolutely s******* themselves about what else is around – and Allegra is too’
On December 22, Ms.Stratton performed in front of nine Downing St employees. ITV acquired the footage, and ITN news broadcast it. Johnson stated that he was furious to have seen the clip and asked Simon Case, Cabinet Secretary (above), to “establish all facts and return as soon as possible”. Following revelations that an event took place in Mr Case’s office in December, Mr Case was forced to step down.
“But it just shows how absurd and self-destructive it was at the beginning.”
Ms. Stratton, at the time the video was made in 2020, was preparing to be a White House spokeswoman and lead press briefings for the Prime Minister each day.
Although it was something she liked, the TV briefings ended up being cancelled. Instead, Ms. Stratton was appointed the Government’s COP26 spokesperson.
Ms. Stratton joked that she ‘went back home’ after being asked by a Downing Street specialist adviser about whether a Christmas Party might have taken place.
On December 22, the rehearsal was distributed to nine Downing Street workers who were assigned to watch Ms Stratton perform in front of cameras. ITV acquired the footage, and ITN news aired it.
Johnson stated that he was furious at the clip and asked Simon Case, Cabinet Secretary to investigate the matter and give a report as soon as possible.
Following revelations that an event was held at his office in December last year, Mr Case had no choice but to step down.
Another source added: ‘It didn’t take the No 10 lot very long to establish one very alarming fact – that there are more tapes just waiting to come out.’