Police are reviewing whether a Christmas quiz in No 10 breached coronavirus restrictions after a picture emerged showing the Prime Minister and colleagues near an open bottle of prosecco and a packet of crisps.
25.01.2022 - 13:43 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
The Metropolitan Police will investigate a 'number of events' in Downing Street in relation to potential lockdown breaches.
Dame Cressida Dick said events in No 10 and Whitehall will be investigated after information was passed on by the Cabinet Office.
The Metropolitan Police Commissioner told the London Assembly’s Police and Crime Committee: “We have a long-established and effective working relationship with the Cabinet Office, who have an investigative capability.
“As you well know they have been carrying out an investigation over the last few weeks.
READ MORE: Boris Johnson LIVE updates as Prime Minister told he must resign NOW amid new birthday party scandal that featured cake, M&S nibbles and 30 people during 2020 lockdown
“What I can tell you this morning is that as a result of the information provided by the Cabinet Office inquiry team and, secondly, my officers’ own assessment, I can confirm that the Met is now investigating a number of events that took place at Downing Street and Whitehall in the last two years in relation to potential breaches of Covid-19 regulations.”
This comes after another Downing Street party scandal emerged last night.
The Prime Minister is now under immense pressure to resign after he admitted having a birthday celebration inside No 10 during the first lockdown, despite social mixing indoors being banned.
He said he only 'briefly' attended for 10 minutes, but 30 guests were reported to be there who ate M&S nibbles and had cake.
This is just one of a series of claims of rule-breaking parties in No 10 that senior civil servant Sue Gray has been tasked with investigating.
Her findings are expected to be published this week.
Sign up to the MEN email newsletters to get the latest on
Police are reviewing whether a Christmas quiz in No 10 breached coronavirus restrictions after a picture emerged showing the Prime Minister and colleagues near an open bottle of prosecco and a packet of crisps.
Scotland Yard could now investigate a Christmas quiz held in Downing Street during the 2020 lockdown, after a new photograph of Boris Johnson attending the event emerged.
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.
A photograph of Boris Johnson holding a can of beer at his birthday bash in June 2020 has been handed over to police.
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'.
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.
The Met Police said it has been handed more than 300 pictures as its investigation into gatherings held in Downing Street and the Cabinet Office during lockdown continue.
The Sue Gray report today found 'failures of leadership and judgement' over Downing Street lockdown parties that 'should not have been allowed'.
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.
The Prime Minister is expected to make a statement today (Monday 31 January) on the latest update from the Sue Gray report.
Sue Gray has provided a version of her inquiry into allegations of lockdown-breaking parties in Downing Street to Boris Johnson.
The Sue Gray report into Downing Street parties is set to finally be published on Monday but with key parts left out.
Joe Lycett recently caused panic in Parliament after he leaked a parody report about the Downing Street lockdown parties. And now, the comedian's heart-breaking reason for doing so has been revealed. Joe, 33, lost his best friend at the start of lockdown and he had to hold a "tiny insufficient funeral" due to rules in place at the time.
The much-anticipated inquiry into Downing Street parties could be handed to Boris Johnson as soon as this weekend.
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.
released a spoof version of Gray’s report investigating the numerous lockdown parties at Downing Street.After it went viral on social media, Lycett screenshotted an exchange he had with a government worker, who claimed the parody was “read as an actual serious leak” within government that left “MP staff literally running around panicking”.Since the incident caught headlines, Lycett has released a statement explaining the parody report was driven by anger after his friend died from cancer in 2020.“I write comedy sometimes as a way of anger,” Lycett wrote. “I write a daft letter about a parking fine or change my name to Hugo Boss or fake a Sue Gray report, all essentially because I’m angry.
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.
There’s been significant backlash after Scotland Yard revealed that the Sue Gray inquiry has been asked to make ‘minimal reference’ to events being investigated by the police.