Covid taskforce chief held leaving drinks in office

THE former director of the Government’s Covid taskforce apologised yesterday for holding leaving drinks in her office during lockdown.

Kate Josephs said she was ‘truly sorry’ for the gathering with Cabinet Office colleagues to mark her exit from the Civil Service on December 17 2020.

The taskforce is responsible for co-ordinating the UK’s response to the pandemic and advises the Prime Minister. Miss Josephs, who describes herself on Twitter as a ‘proud public servant’, was director general of the taskforce from July 2020.

The decision to hold a workplace gathering in Whitehall appeared to go against the official advice at the time. On that same day, the Government’s official Twitter

feed replied to a query asking if employers could hold Christmas parties at the end of the working day.

It said: ‘Although there are exemptions for work purposes, you must not have a work Christmas lunch or party, where that is a primarily social activity and is not otherwise permitted by the rules in your tier.’

Miss Josephs tweeted yesterday: ‘I am truly sorry that I did this and for the anger that people will feel as a result.’ Referring to her new role as chief executive of Sheffield City Council, she added: ‘Sheffield has suffered greatly during this pandemic, and I apologise unreservedly.

‘The specific facts of this event will be considered in the context of the Cabinet Office investigation. I did not attend any events at 10 Downing St.’