The tech expert and a mole hunt over the leaked video
THE hunt for the mole who leaked a video of No10 staff joking about holding a Christmas party was stepped up by Downing Street yesterday.
Following denials such a party took place, the hugely embarrassing footage cost Boris Johnson’s aide Allegra Stratton her job and forced the Prime Minister into a grovelling apology.
Questions were being asked yesterday as to whether a broadcast technology whizz and former ITV newsreader may have played a role – or know who did.
Chris James, 40, was brought into No10 at the time of the filmed rehearsals last December to help Miss Stratton and other staff get to grips with the £2.6million press briefing room installed at No9 in an attempt to mimic White House briefings. The idea was later scrapped and Miss Stratton was moved to a role as spokesman for the Cop26 climate change summit. A source told the Daily Mail that Mr James’s name had entered the mix as the potential whistleblower after he was named in connection with a leak in March of photographs of the new briefing room. That story was revealed by a young ITV producer with whom Mr James had previously worked.
Tuesday’s footage was also revealed by ITV, with the same producer involved.
Contacted via an intermediary, Mr James declined to answer questions about any alleged role in the leak.
The footage came from one of around eight or nine rehearsals that were filmed and was emailed to nine people – Downing Street staff and civil servants – insiders said.
It is likely that the leak will form part of Simon Case’s investigation into the party.