ABBA have responded to reports that their music was played during one of the alleged lockdown-flouting parties that was held at 10 Downing Street in 2020.One of the 12 alleged gatherings which were the subject of senior civil servant Sue Gray’s recent report – and are now under police investigation – reportedly took place on November 13, 2020 following the departure of Prime Minister Boris Johnson‘s controversial aide Dominic Cummings.Sky News reports that a “victory party” was allegedly held in Johnson’s flat on that date by friends of his now-wife Carrie Johnson, during which a number of ABBA tracks, including the 1980 single ‘The Winner Takes It All’, were played. Cummings also claimed last week that there would be “witnesses who say ‘we could all hear a party with ABBA playing’”.Both Boris and Carrie Johnson have denied the claims, while Downing Street said in a statement last week that the PM would “ask Sue Gray to update her work in light of what is found” by the Metropolitan Police when they have concluded their inquiries.In a new interview with PA (via i News), ABBA’s Benny Andersson has now given his reaction to the reports that his band’s music was apparently played at the alleged party.“You can’t call it an ABBA party,” he said.
BREAKING: Sajid Javid to hold Downing Street Covid press conference TODAY
19.01.2022 - 18:05 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Health Secretary Sajid Javid will be hosting a Downing Street press conference later today.
The Covid briefing will be held at 5pm where Mr Javid is expected to provide further details on the Government's decision to scrap Plan B restrictions.
It comes after the Prime Minister told MPs that Covid rules will expire on January 26 over suggestions that the peak of the Omicron wave is over.
READ MORE: Boris Johnson scraps face masks, working from home and vaccine passports in Plan B announcement
Starting today, guidance to work from home has been scrapped while face coverings will no longer be required on school classrooms from tomorrow.
From January 27, face masks will no longer be mandatory in shops or public transports while Covid passports will no longer be required for large venues.
The PM told MPs: "There will soon come a time when we can remove the legal requirement to self-isolate altogether, just as we don't place legal obligations on people to isolate if they have flu.
"As Covid becomes endemic, we will need to replace legal requirements with advice and guidance, urging people with the virus to be careful and considerate of others."
Boris Johnson says he's 'sorry' over Greater Manchester's 391 days tough restrictions during Covid - while Downing Street partied on
Boris Johnson has told Greater Manchester residents, who were banned from mixing with other households indoors for a heartbreaking 391 days, he is 'sorry for any misjudgements' in the wake of 'partygate'.
What time is Rishi Sunak's press conference?
Chancellor Rishi Sunak will be hosting a press conference today to make a major announcement in regard to soaring energy bills.
DJ fined for “lending” soundsystem for warehouse rave days before Downing Street party
The Mirror.Despite that, prosecutor Nathan Paine-Davey saidthat her offence was enough to charge her for being involved in holding the gathering.At the time the country was just days into a lockdown which prevented any sort of mass gatherings indoor and out.The prosecutor said: “This relates to November 7 and 8. The defendant has been charged with an offence against the public protection coronavirus restrictions regulations which were in force on November 5, 2020.”Eric Kawoya, defending, said Innerarity had been asked by two friends named if they could borrow her sound equipment.He told the court his client did not know the equipment would be used for a party.Mr Kawoya added: “She packed them in the car and drove to the venue.
Sue Gray report: Downing Street lockdown parties 'should not have been allowed to happen'
The Sue Gray report today found 'failures of leadership and judgement' over Downing Street lockdown parties that 'should not have been allowed'.
Sue Gray report in full - the published inquiry into Downing Street parties
Civil servant Sue Gray has published part of her long-awaited report into the partygate row. She has been investigating a number of rule breaking parties allegedly held during lockdown, including the 'bring your own booze' gathering on 20 May 2020. Now, an update from the report has been made available to the public. The inquiry covers a total of 16 separate gatherings on 12 different dates. Ms Gray is understood to have pared back the report following a request from the Metropolitan Police. The wording of a government statement issued on Monday (31 January) suggested that the official may wish to publish a fuller-version of the results of her inquiry after the Met completes its investigation. But Downing Street said it will publish the Gray report in the full form it has received from the inquiry team - and did not commit to publishing a fuller version in the future.
Boris Johnson to receive Sue Gray report on Downing Street partygate scandal today
The Sue Gray report into Downing Street parties is set to finally be published on Monday but with key parts left out.
Met Police receives new evidence from Cabinet Office as part of Downing Street party probe
The Met Police says it has received new evidence from the Cabinet Office as part of its investigation into possible breaches of Covid regulations in Downing Street.
Fears of Sue Gray 'whitewash' as Met Police ask for details of Downing Street parties to be removed
Demands are growing for the publication of the entire Sue Gray 'partygate' report amid claims that police interference in the process will lead to a whitewash.
Boris Johnson (and the rest of us) still waiting for Sue Gray report on Downing Street parties
Boris Johnson is still waiting for Sue Gray’s partygate report to arrive on his desk.
Sue Gray 'will NOT publish Downing Street parties inquiry while police investigate'
Sue Gray's inquiry into a number of alleged parties held in Downing Street will not be published while the Metropolitan Police also investigate, reports suggest.
Boris Johnson 'stuck two fingers up at the rest of us' with Downing Street parties, claims Ian Blackford
The SNP has made a fresh call on Boris Johnson to resign after the latest revelations in the partygate scandal allege the Prime Minister held a lockdown-breaking birthday bash in 2020.
Holiday boost as covid tests for vaccinated travellers to UK finally scrapped
Boris Johnson has scrapped covid tests for vaccinated travellers arriving in the UK signalling a move towards a return to more normal summer holidays.
Downing Street party before Prince Philip's funeral was 'seven-hour drinking session with guests using Wilf's slide'
Downing Street staff are said to have partied until 1am at boozy leaving drinks held the night before Prince Philip's funeral.
Viral Downing Street “Christmas Rave” raises over £100k for charity
Shelter.The fictitious event was set up by Scottish DJ Jon Mancini following the news that a number of members of government, including Prime Minister Boris Johnson, attended parties at Downing Street during lockdown.Any such event would have breached government-enforced coronavirus regulations at the time, the guidance for which stated: “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.”Mancini’s parody event was set for December 29 and was described as a “massive rave at 10 Downing Street”.“No social distancing required. Bring who you like.
"We have to find a way to remove almost all restrictions and get back to normal": Everything announced at Downing Street press conference
The UK may have 'solid defences' against Covid-19 but we are still not at the 'end of the road', Health Secretary Sajid Javid has said today.
Boris Johnson claims “nobody told me” Downing Street party was against COVID rules
Boris Johnson has claimed that he wasn’t informed that a Downing Street garden gathering that’s been alleged to have been party was against COVID rules at the time.The Prime Minister said in a new interview that he “humbly apologises” to people for “misjudgements” that were made, but that he wouldn’t have attended the gathering on May 20, 2020, if he thought it broke the rules.He told Sky News today (January 18): “I’m saying categorically that nobody told me, nobody said this was something that was against the rules, doing something that wasn’t a work event because frankly, I can’t imagine why it would have gone ahead, or it would have been allowed to go ahead if it was against the rules.”"I carry full responsibility for what took place, but nobody said to me that this was an event that is against the rules."Boris Johnson recalls what he remembers about an alleged party in the Downing Street garden during lockdown.Latest: https://t.co/lE3sSg2vbt pic.twitter.com/k50uWKeYmD— Sky News (@SkyNews) January 18, 2022Under the rules that applied at the time of the alleged party, which dozens of Downing Street staff were invited to in an email sent by principal private secretary Martin Reynolds, people in England were subject to “not meeting up with any more than one person from outside your household” [via FullFact].The law in May 2020 said “no person may participate in a gathering in a public place of more than two people” unless it was for one of a number of stated reasons. These included when the gathering was “essential for work purposes” or “all the persons in the gathering are members of the same household”.