Dirty dozen of shindigs set to face scrutiny by Met Police
FROM bring a bottle to the suitcase of wine, here are all the parties the Met will probe.
May 20, 2020: The infamous “bring your own booze” party in the Downing Street garden. June 18, 2020: A new party uncovered by Sue Gray at 70 Whitehall to mark the departure of a No10 private secretary. June 19, 2020: Boris Johnson’s “surprise” birthday party in the Cabinet Office. Carrie Johnson led staff in a chorus of Happy Birthday while the PM was presented with a cake. November 13, 2020: Two parties. One in the No11 flat, said to have been thrown by Carrie to celebrate the exit of Dominic Cummings. The second next door for Lee Cain, the PM’s departing director of communications. December 17, 2020: Three parties. Kate Josephs, former Director General of the Covid Taskforce, given a send off. There
was a Cabinet Office “Christmas party”, with an online quiz. Thirdly a gathering in No10 for the departure of an official. December 18, 2020: The big Christmas party at No10, first revealed by the Mirror. Downing Street dodged questions for a week before a bombshell video emerged of staff joking about it. Officials knocked back glasses of wine and held a Secret Santa while the rest of the country was forced to stay at home. Press secretary Allegra Stratton was forced to resign over the video. January 14, 2021: Another one revealed for the first time as part of Sue Gray’s report is a gathering in No10 Downing Street on the departure of two private secretaries.
April 16, 2021: Two parties took place and later joined together on the eve of Prince Philip’s funeral. Despite the Union flag flying at half mast at Buckingham Palace and the Queen attending her late husband’s funeral alone, Downing Street staff wheeled a suitcase filled with wine into No10. Downing Street apologised to Buckingham Palace after reported details emerged of boozy drinks parties, including a leaving do for communications director James Slack.