A new video showing Tory Party staff dancing and joking about COVID restrictions at a Christmas party during the pandemic has added to the ongoing ‘Partygate’ controversy.
The video, obtained by The Mirror, shows a man and woman holding hands and dancing while someone else says: “As long as we don’t stream that, we’re, like, bending the rules.”
The gathering occurred at Conservative Party headquarters on December 14, 2020, when socialising indoors was banned as part of COVID rules.
At least 24 people are believed to have been at the party, including two names on Boris Johnson’s resignation honours list.
On Sunday, levelling up secretary Michael Gove described the video as “terrible”, telling Sky News’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday show: “I want to apologise to everyone who, looking at that… will think these people are flouting the rules designed to protect us all.”
Gove said the video was “unacceptable”, but it would not be suitable for him to say whether police should investigate.
How the Partygate Scandal Affects Rishi Sunak and the Reputation of the Conservatives
The video is the latest chapter in the ongoing Partygate controversy. Here’s everything you need to know about the long-running saga and what it means for UK politics.
A new Partygate police probe could be launched as previously unseen footage has been released showing Tory staff partying and breaking lockdown rules in December 2020. A bombshell video reveals how officials mocked strict Covid regulations at the Conservative Campaign Headquarters in London.
In the exclusive footage shared by The Mirror, two people even dance past a sign advising people to “Please keep your distance”. At least 24 revellers were there and, shockingly, they include two named on ex-PM Boris Johnson’s controversial resignation honours list.
The video will anger families who lost relatives in Covid while reigniting criticisms of Mr Johnson just days after he was slammed for misleading MPs over parties at No10. The party was held on December 14, 2020, just days after large areas of the UK were barred from socialising indoors. Last year a widely seen picture of the party formed part of the Met Police’s probe. But no fines were issued as the force had only still images to go on and found insufficient evidence of law-breaking.
Rishi Sunak and the Conservative Party Grapple with the Aftermath of the Staff Party Video
But the damning video sheds light on the affair, and the Met says it will assess whether it could be ¬material to an inquiry. Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner said: “Revellers openly mocked the rules the British people followed. The Tories think it’s one rule for them and one rule for everyone else.
“Instead of forcing them to face the consequences, Rishi Sunak has caved into Boris Johnson and chosen to reward them with honours. It’s a sickening insult.”
The party was organised by the campaign team of the London Mayor candidate Shaun Bailey – now Lord Bailey after Mr Johnson made him a peer in his honours list. Mr Bailey had left the party before the video was taken.
The video features Ben Mallet, awarded an OBE in Mr Johnson’s list. Mr Mallet, filmed holding a glass of red wine and wearing festive braces, was the Tories’ campaign director for the 2021 London mayoral election. He now runs the campaign of Moz Hossain, who wants to stand in next year’s mayoral race.
The video features Ben Mallet, awarded an OBE in Mr Johnson’s list. Mr Mallet, filmed holding a glass of red wine and wearing festive braces, was the Tories’ campaign director for the 2021 London mayoral election. He now runs the campaign of Moz Hossain, who wants to stand in next year’s mayoral race.
The footage has emerged after a dramatic week in which Partygate finally caught up with the ex-PM. In a damning report on Thursday, the Privileges Committee found he had repeatedly misled MPs over lockdown-busting gatherings. It also accused him of being “complicit” in a “campaign of abuse and attempted intimidation” against the committee’s seven members.
The committee said Mr Johnson would have faced a 90-day suspension from Parliament if he had not resigned in anger before the publication of its report.
Assessing the Impact of the Staff Party Video on Rishi Sunak and the Conservative Party
The Daily Mirror produced a picture of the gathering in December 2021, showing staff members and volunteers raising glasses of wine in close quarters. A buffet is seen on trestle tables around the room.
A Metropolitan Police investigation concluded last November that the “photo by itself is not sufficient proof on which to assess that an offence had been committed”. A spokesman for the Met said at the time: “The investigation discussed all the material thoroughly and, after heedful consideration, it was determined that there was scanty evidence to disprove the version of events provided by attendees to a standard that would meet the threshold required.”
