CORONAVIRUS
Met Police faces pressure to investigate ‘raucous’ rule-busting event by Tories after damning snap
THE Metropolitan Police is under intense pressure to probe a Covid rule-busting party at Tory HQ last Christmas after an image emerged of the “raucous” event.
Despite a huge public outcry over revelations of multiple parties in Government while the rest of the country faced restrictions, the force has so far refused to investigate them, citing a lack of evidence.
But calls intensified after an extraordinary photograph emerged showing two dozen Tories crowded together wearing party hats, holding drinks and with a catered buffet.
At the time of the December 14 event, London was in Tier 2 lockdown, which banned people from meeting socially indoors with anybody from another household.
Last night, former London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey, who was pictured in the group, apologised for his “serious error of judgment”.
He has already stepped down as chair of the London Assembly’s police and crime committee, which has a role holding the Met to account.
A cross-party group of politicians in the capital called on Scotland Yard to investigate the apparent breach of Covid restrictions.
They wrote: “It is essential these alleged breaches and all involved are fully investigated by the Met.”
Boris Johnson faces ongoing questions over his own apparent
It was a serious error of judgment when Londoners made sacrifices to keep us all safe SHAUN BAILEY APOLOGISING OVER TORIES’ PARTY LAST CHRISTMAS
breaches after it was revealed he hosted a festive quiz at Downing Street several days later.
The PM was captured on a screen with two aides hosting a round of the “virtual” quiz that involved dozens of boozing staff crowded round desks.
Sources also said he was present at a leaving do on November 27, where he gave a speech, while his staff held a Christmas party in No 10 on December 18 last year.
Johnson told a Downing Street press conference yesterday: “I follow the rules. Everybody across politics should follow the rules.”
He insisted his staff had worked “blindingly hard” throughout the pandemic – even though thousands of frontline NHS staff did so too, without holding social gatherings.
But Johnson has asked his top civil servant Simon Case to probe the events and is expected to report back before Christmas.
The PM said: “We’ll hear from the Cabinet Secretary about what he believes has happened and, indeed, if the police think there’s anything to follow up I’m sure that they will.”
England’s chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty said: “When people think there’s unfairness, and
particularly if they think there’s unfairness in high places, they get angry.”
But he said most Britons are able to separate that out from actions they needed to take to stay free of Covid.
When asked about parties and gatherings, NHS England’s Dr Nikki Kanani said staff would “keep going, whatever else happens nationally”.
She said: “We’re here to look after our patients and public and that’s what my teams and colleagues will continue to focus on.”
Met chief Cressida Dick told MPs this week the force is still considering a probe into the wider party claims based on “a framework” used to take retrospective action in other cases. Scotland Yard will then make a decision on whether to pursue the matter further, possibly after Case’s probe has finished. Bailey quit his policing role ahead of the release of the new photograph, which also showed billionaire Tory donor Nick Candy next to him, raising a glass. In a tweet last night,
Bailey said: “I want to apologise unreservedly for attending a gathering held by some of my staff in my campaign office last December.
“I gave a speech to my team to thank them for their efforts, before leaving shortly afterwards.
“It was a serious error of judgment at a time when Londoners were making immense sacrifices to keep us all safe and I regret it wholeheartedly.”
Asked about the gathering, the PM’s official spokesman said: “Obviously it’s unacceptable.”
Keir Starmer said Johnson had lost the trust of his MPs and the authority to lead the UK in a crisis.
It follows a massive Tory rebellion over new Covid restrictions and the Christmas parties scandal.
Labour chief Starmer slammed Johnson for saying he was unaware “what was happening in his own house last Christmas”.
He added: “His MPs don’t believe him and nor do the British public. He’s taking the public for fools and it’s becoming dangerous because from today anyone who tests positive for coronavirus faces a second Christmas in isolation. It’ll be heartbreaking for families across the country.
“The message from the Government has to be, ‘We know that following the rules won’t be easy this Christmas but it is necessary.’
“Can the Prime Minister not see that he has no hope of regaining the moral authority to deliver that difficult message if he cannot be straight with the British public about the rule-breaking in Downing Street last Christmas?”
The Met Police was last night approached for comment.