Police are urged to probe Tory’s party in lockdown
The police were urged last night to investigate a lockdown-busting party that took place in the basement of the Conservative Party’s headquarters.
Former London mayoral candidate shaun Bailey and his campaign team held the gathering last December when parties were banned. Mr Bailey yesterday stepped down as chairman of the London Assembly’s crime committee, but remains on the committee.
A leaked photograph of the party on December 14 shows 23 people - including Mr Bailey and Tory donor Nick Candy – with drinks and buffet food laid out.
Transport secretary Grant shapps yesterday told sky News it was ‘absolutely right’ that Mr Bailey had resigned his role and it was ‘wrong to have held a party’.
A Downing street spokesman said Boris Johnson shared the view that the party was ‘unacceptable’, adding they were not aware that any No 10 staff had attended.
Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green Party politicians on the London Assembly yesterday wrote to Metropolitan Police commissioner Dame Cressida Dick to demand an investigation, saying: ‘These latest images and reports regarding the alleged party at Conservative HQ seem to indicate a clear breach of the regulations.’
eight days after the party, Mr Bailey went on Twitter to urge people to follow the rules, saying the restrictions were ‘tough on every Londoner’. he tweeted last night: ‘I want to apologise unreservedly for attending a gathering held by some of my staff in my campaign office last December.’
■ Mr Johnson attended yet another Downing street leaving do in the run-up to Christmas last year, it can be revealed.
The Prime Minister gave a speech paying tribute to a departing military attaché at the gathering inside No 10.