While attending an exclusive think tank gathering, a Tory senior minister made jokes about Boris Johnson’s Christmas Party dispute.
Jacob Rees Mogg was the Commons leader and he laughed about the chaos that had engulfed Government when he spoke to members of the Institute of Economic Affairs, which is centre-right.
It took place just days before yesterday’s explosive revelations of an aide laughing at their illegal Christmas party.
Today, No10 hit panic with Sajid Javid (Health Secretary) cancelling interviews. Tory MPs warned that Johnson should come clean at PMQs.
In footage of the IEA event, first revealed by the Guido Fawkes website, Mr Rees-Mogg says: ‘I see we’re all here obeying regulations, aren’t we?
‘I mean, this party is not going to be investigated by the police in a year’s time.
‘You are all very carefully socially distanced… we have moved, I am pleased to tell you, from the metric back to the Imperial system: I notice you are all at least two inches away from each other which is, as I understand it, what the regulations require.’
At the time Labour had already demanded a police inquiry into a party said to have taken place on December 18 last year, when indoor gatherings were banned in London.

Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg laughed about the furore that has engulfed the Government as he addressed members of the centre-right Institute of Economic Affairs.

The event took place days before last night’s revelation of a bombshell video emerged of aides joking about their ‘illegal’ Christmas party.

Video footage from the IEA Event, which was first shown by Guido Fawkes’ website, shows Mr Rees Mogg saying: ‘I See we’re all here following regulations. Aren’t they? “It is unlikely that this group will be investigated by police within a year.’
Today’s broadcaster coverage of today’s Health Secretary meeting was brutally absent. This happened after the release of footage that showed Allegra Stratton, the former Press Secretary to the Prime Minister, giggling over the Lockdown-busting event last year.
Scotland Yard has been tasked with probing the news from ITV News’ rehearsal for a briefing.
Downing Street seems to have taken a few hours to figure out the best line for Mr Johnson at Commons grilling. It is unclear if Attorney General Suella Brverman’s visit to the building is connected. Mister Javid also entered but ignored any questions on why he did not want interviews.
It is clear that Conservative MPs are moving on to the premier. There are demands that he provide an explanation and that he warns parliament that lying about what has happened would be grounds for resigning. Ex-Minister in the Cabinet, Baroness Warsi has criticized the premier and demanded an explanation. He also warned that any member of parliament or staff working for the party should resign.
BBC Breakfast made the unusual step of not chairing Mr Javid today as Maggie Throup, vaccines minister, pulled out from her scheduled round of interviews on regional TV. Susanna Reid, ITV’s Good Morning Britain host, claimed that the government is ‘gaslighting’ viewers by pretending they don’t need to answer any questions.
The footage of Ms Stratton was filmed on December 22 last year – four days after the alleged ‘boozy’ party and when London was under strict Tier 3 coronavirus curbs. After a week of denials by No. 10, the revelation was made after staff members allegedly exchanged gifts from Santa Claus and partied past midnight.
The Government is preparing new plans to allow Britons to work remotely and to close offices. However, Tory MPs acknowledged that the video was ‘indefensible and catastrophic. This could lead to public resistance to more restrictions due to a lack of moral authority in No 10.
Boris Johnson may be forced to quit by backbenchers if he does not ‘hold up his hands’ due to the video. This would put into doubt his claims that all the rules were being followed.
Johnson’s leadership was described as “tired of it.” He must go. Complete sweep. It’s unsustainable’. Another stated that it confirmed his suspicions about the arrogance of lockdown organizers.
Tracey Crouch MP for Chatham-Aylesford was an ex-minister and asked for an apology.
‘I am fuming! Kent Online stated that my constituents had every right to be mad.
“Their feelings of loss are haunted by the knowledge that their loved ones died by themselves, which is why many people spend what is often a very special day all by themselves.
“I don’t even intend to try to justify and defend Downing Street parties.” All of us deserve an eloquent explanation, swiftly apologizing and a full apology.
Conservative Sir Roger Gale today said that the current situation bears ‘all of the hallmarks a another ‘Barnard Castle’ moment’. This is referring to last year’s Prime Minister’s former aide, who drove 260-miles under lockdown conditions.
He stated, “This is something like out of The Thick Of It.” It would be impossible for people to believe if you had written it. Boris Johnson is a man who has been himself and does his things his way. He needs to explain a lot. This isn’t something you can laugh about. I need PM to call the dispatch office and state that there was or didn’t exist a party. I need an explanation today at lunch.
Even Ant and Dec got in on the act last night, mocking Boris Johnson over the Downing Street Christmas party on I’m a Celebrity 2021 and saying: ‘Evening Prime Minister… for now.’
The police have yet to initiate a criminal investigation, but they will examine the video before making a decision. According to reports, a top officer will review the footage in coming days.
A Met spokesperson said that they were aware of ITV News footage about alleged Health Protection Regulations violations at a Government Building in December 2020. “It is not our policy to routinely examine retrospective breaches of Covid-19 regulations. But the footage will make part of our considerations,” a Met spokesperson said.