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LAST UPDATE | 8 Dec 2021
POLICE ARE NOT opening an investigation into allegations Downing Street staff broke coronavirus rules with a Christmas party last year, as Boris Johnson apologised and a senior aide was forced to quit over the scandal.
Scotland Yard said officers will not “commence an investigation at this time” in line with its “policy not to investigate retrospective breaches” of coronavirus rules despite reviewing the allegations and leaked footage showing senior No 10 staff joking about a party.
But the Metropolitan Police was open to considering any further evidence unearthed in an internal investigation the UK Prime Minister was forced to task Cabinet Secretary Simon Case with undertaking as he claimed to be “furious” about the video.
Amid mounting public anger Allegra Stratton, who was Johnson’s spokeswoman, resigned as a Government adviser after video emerged of her and other aides “seeming to make light of lockdown measures” just days after the gathering in No 10.
A Met statement acknowledged it had received “a significant amount of correspondence” relating to the alleged breaches in the run up to Christmas last year but said they do not “provide evidence of a breach” of Covid rules.
“Based on the absence of evidence and in line with our policy not to investigate retrospective breaches of such regulations, the Met will not commence an investigation at this time,” it added.
“The Met has had discussions with the Cabinet Office in relation to the investigation by the Cabinet Secretary. If any evidence is found as a result of that investigation, it will be passed to the Met for further consideration.”
Johnson has repeatedly insisted that rules were followed in Downing Street since the claims first emerged about the December 18 party.
However, at Prime Minister’s Questions, he told the Commons he based that position on assurances from junior staff as he offered an apology.
He asked Mr Case “to establish all the facts and to report back as soon as possible – and it goes without saying that if those rules were broken then there will be disciplinary action for all those involved”.
Johnson said: “I understand and share the anger up and down the country at seeing No 10 staff seeming to make light of lockdown measures, and I can understand how infuriating it must be to think that people who have been setting the rules have not been following the rules because I was also furious to see that clip.
“I apologise unreservedly for the offence that it has caused up and down the country, and I apologise for the impression that it gives.
“But I repeat that I have been repeatedly assured since these allegations emerged that there was no party and that no Covid rules were broken, and that is what I have been repeatedly assured.”
At a hastily-arranged Downing Street press conference, Johnson was forced to deny allegations, including from senior Conservative William Wragg, that his announcement of further coronavirus restrictions was a “diversionary tactic” from the scandal.
He also appeared to concede that the Cabinet Secretary would be able to go further than just reviewing the events of December 18 and “look at other things”, with other alleged gatherings in Downing Street over the festive period last year.
Johnson praised Ms Stratton as a “fine colleague” as he accepted her resignation.
“Allegra Stratton has resigned and I wanted to pay tribute to her because she has been, in spite of what everybody has seen, and again, I make no excuses for the frivolity with which the subject was handled in that rehearsal that people saw in that clip,” he said.
In a tearful statement outside her home, Stratton apologised for her appearance in footage recorded just days after the alleged party.
She had been taking part in a mock press conference in preparation for the planned White House-style televised briefings she would front – a project which was ultimately abandoned.
In the footage obtained by ITV News, Stratton and adviser Ed Oldfield, along with other aides, were filmed joking about a “fictional” Downing Street party.
A laughing Stratton said: “This fictional party was a business meeting … and it was not socially distanced.”
Her appearance in the briefing room was in stark contrast to her emotional statement on Wednesday, where she told reporters: “My remarks seemed to make light of the rules, rules that people were doing everything to obey.
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Was Leo at it?
@Bryan Mc Mahon: he dropped by on the way from the picking nose festival
@Bryan Mc Mahon: So desperate to get a jab in against the Irish government when the article isn’t even about them. You’re exactly what’s wrong with the Journal comments section.
@Michael Byrne: Get a jab at Leo at every turn. Wonder how the garda investigation into Leo going..Probably gone into the file of Noreens missing laptops and mobile phones. P.S. any update on the missing millions in Templemore.
@Donal Desmond: your no better then FF or FG supporters,you give out when there supporter’s mention any of the opposition in a article with nothing to do with the opposition but you just do the same.
@Donal Desmond: I am just asking Donal as somehow the story was leaked ?
@Daniel Roche: At least that got a Varadkar supporter upset..Well worth it.
@Bryan Mc Mahon: Suppose like a certain individual in the Irish government leaks are his forte . Who would be Leo’s counter part in the Westminster government?
@Donal Desmond: or the multitude of shallow graves in the border areas?
@Donal Desmond: am I allowed to answer if it upsets Michael above?
@Seosamh Mac Cionnaith: Spoken like Leo and Martin.
@Bryan Mc Mahon: Answer away.. That’s why it’s called the comment section.
@Donal Desmond: in fairness Leo is unique. Under Garda investigation and hasn’t the gumption to stand aside until complete. It shows a weak Government that hasn’t made him do it. 1 lad broke covid protocols and lost his ministerial post and had a 4 year old conviction and served the penalty and lost his ministerial post. What’s the difference? 1 from FG 2 from FF. It shows the little back bone the FG parliamentary party have in not having Leo take a back seat until investigation is complete. BTW I have no political affiliation before I am accused of being a leftie or Shinner just out to slam the govt at all opportunities
@Michael Byrne: he is entitled to his opinion weather you like it or not
@Michael Byrne: Having said that your spot on with what you said
@Bryan Mc Mahon: from reading that, it doesn’t look like Boris was at it.
@Bryan Mc Mahon: Well put
@Philip Duffy: you just wait. As soon as they attempt to sacrifice the wrong person, you can be sure footage/photos will appear. The room was full of mobile phones…..
@Adam Rekio: He gave them a wave from the bridge
Their cabinet literally laughing like horses into their faces, during lockdown privations and heartbreaking separations even unto death…what will the GB public do?
@Jack Russell: Whatever the murdoch rags tell them to.
@Jack Russell: probably vote them back in again…. It happens in Ireland too. Scandal after and the same m0r0ns are returned again!
@Jack Russell: same as we do, as we are told
Won’t affect them… This Teflon government could literally go door to door sticking the middle finger up at the electorate and they’d still stroll the next election. Labour have made themselves unelectable and the Tories know it.
@Max Bailey: this is an unfortunate reality. Labour dont know who they are or what they stand for right now.
@Max Bailey: Labour should’ve been elected while Corbyn was leader. They’re paying, and will continue to pay for decades, for the treachery of Corbyn’s colleagues. Anti-semitism mícheál!
@JusticeForJoe: and don’t forget their treachery against David milliband when they elected his !d!ot brother instead. They don’t want a leader with a spine and morals just someone who’ll do what their donors say!
@Dave Thomas: The British people literally chose Boris and Brexit knowing exactly what they’d be getting. They have no excuses about lies on buses anymore. They made two very deliberately British moves with that election and won’t like how it plays out.
@JusticeForJoe: that’s what happens when you believe the lies of people who couldn’t give a toss about you.
Labour in the uk is totally wrapped up in culture wars, woke wars etc that they have totally forgotten the concerns of ordinary people i.e. health, jobs etc.
That’s why Boris is partying away in no. 10, he know he has absolutely no opposition
Just a grilling? Given that it’s the festive season hopefully he’ll get stuffed and his goose will be well and truly cooked! I’d say he’s already stewing in his own juices at this stage. How did they ever elect such a turkey…
@William Tallon: Because the UK media told the British public that Jeremy Corbyn was a filthy socialist. Can’t be having that so best have a corrupt band of arseholes take charge instead
@Ed: I don’t believe everything the media tells me and nor do you or the U.K electorate I suspect so I don’t think that was particularly the reason he was elected. It’s more complex than that. Then again ‘A good politician is quite as unthinkable as an honest burglar…’ H.L. Mencken
The usual deflection tactic. He’s clearly been taking notes while observing FFG.
Trump in the US, Johnson in Britain, Varadkar here. Tories think they are above the plebs. And accuse the opposition of playing politics when caught.
@Seán Marlow: cheap comment
@Declan Joseph Deasy: Not wrong though.
Varadkar very silent on the Downing St parties #merriongate
He is the laughing stock in his government
@Mick Dunne: welcome back.
@Mick Dunne: I thought you were leaving hahahaha
@Mick Dunne: you lasted longer than my Mrs when she keeps telling me she’s leaving me, I’ll give you that
Like there’s nothing else going on in the world… And it’s front line news.
This Christmas Panto is exciting and well scripted.
Boris to fall.
Gove ro rise.
Plan of Bee
Digipass for all.
Sure the same here but we only found out about some gatherings more went on we didn’t find out about their all laughing at us all the shobgits we are golfgate up for a hearing in October didn’t hear if it went ahead no more after that
If Scotland Yard has a “policy of not investigating retrospective breaches “, what then exactly do they investigate, presumably not prospective breaches !
I’ve been at parties myself couldn’t remember a bleeding thing next morning either Boris
Only Sorry Boris when You were Caught Out
Funny I’m sure I don’t know if there is a party going on in my house it seems that the prime minister doesn’t have his eye on the ball
Watching Sky News, and Boris could be in trouble here, a right old political storm is brewing.
Shock. Horror. There was a knees up in Bojo’s gaff a year ago during the C19 severe restrictions for the UK. That is scandalous. But the bigger scandal is why the video is only leaking now? Surely the journalists who asked the questions knew the implications?
@meme: they were staffers practicing
Furious they got caught out more like. Bozo as usual denies everything and points the finger elsewhere.
And of course someone got thrown under the bus! Always a fall guy or woman in this instance
Go have a party with a bunch of your mates in the same place and see how fast you get investigated
Nothing new there.Its one rule for the British government and another for the British people its a disgrace
“I was assured that there was no party and no rules were broken”
You know what a party is. You knew what the rules were. Talk about passing the buck!
Wow
They Should also investigate what Lies Boris told in The Brexit Campaign
Michéal called to the wrong door
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