Downing Street’s head of policy, Munira Mirza, has reportedly resigned after Boris Johnson failed to apologise for using a Jimmy Savile slur against Sir Keir Starmer.
15.01.2022 - 03:15 / dailyrecord.co.uk
Boris Johnson was last night under increasing pressure over No 10 lockdown parties as more revelations of boozy gatherings in the pandemic came to light.
Downing Street staff held “wine time Fridays” which the PM regularly witnessed.
Sources told our sister paper the Mirror he encouraged aides to “let off steam,” despite indoor socialising being banned under his Covid rules.
Calls for Johnson to quit over the parties scandal grew last night, as Labour surged ahead in polls.
The wine event was so popular workers even invested in a £142 drinks fridge to keep their bottles of white wine, prosecco and beer cool.
A picture has emerged of it being delivered through the back door of Downing Street on December 11, 2020. And sources claimed aides took turns on Fridays to visit a Tesco Metro in Westminster with a wheely suitcase to fill the 34-bottle fridge.
The events were said to have sometimes gone on until midnight, with staff also playing games.
One source said: “Boris used to stop by for a chat while they had a drink. It was on the way up to his flat and the door was usually open. He knew about it and encouraged it.”
Another added: “He could see everyone sitting there drinking.
“He would come in and say, ‘Hello everyone, had a hard week? Letting off some steam? Oh great.’
“The idea that he didn’t know there were drinks is total nonsense. If the PM tells you to ‘let off steam’, he’s basically saying this is fine.”
The revelations come as No 10 yesterday apologised to Buckingham Palace after it was revealed parties were held there the day before Prince Philip’s funeral.
Staff reportedly took a suitcase to a supermarket to stock up on booze for two leaving bashes on April 16 last year. But the “wine time Fridays” appear to show
Downing Street’s head of policy, Munira Mirza, has reportedly resigned after Boris Johnson failed to apologise for using a Jimmy Savile slur against Sir Keir Starmer.
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.
Ruth Davidson fought back tears on live TV tonight as she accused Boris Johnson of 'degrading' politics.
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 Sue Gray report into Downing Street parties is set to finally be published on Monday but with key parts left out.
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.
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 has described as “total rhubarb” claims he personally intervened to authorise the evacuation of dogs from Afghanistan.
Boris Johnson is still waiting for Sue Gray’s partygate report to arrive on his desk.
Professor Green has taken aim at Prime Minister Boris Johnson with his new single ‘Dance Like A Tory’ – listen below.The London rapper – real name Stephen Manderson – released the satirical song today (January 27) in response to the recent parties scandal that’s engulfed Downing Street and led to calls for Johnson to resign.‘Dance Like A Tory’ is described as “a playful prod at the privileged politicians who believed that they’re too important to follow the very rules that they made”. It arrives with a tongue-in-cheek video in which Pro Green takes on the role of Johnson at a coronavirus press conference.“It’s popping off on Downing Street / My favourite restaurant just closed down / The doors to 338 are closed / While Number 10 gets down,” Green raps in the single.
Pressure is continuing to mount on Prime Minister Boris Johnson as the government waits for the official investigation into the 'partygate' row.
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.
Boris Johnson's daughter Romy was hit "quite badly" by Covid-19 but is now "on the mend", it has been reported. Last week, Downing Street had announced that a member of the 57 year old Prime Minister's family had tested positive for the virus, but did not specify who it was.The PM, who shares a stunning home with wife Carrie after a pricey refurbishment, had pulled out of a visit to Lancashire after Downing Street revealed he'd been in close contact a with relative who had coronavirus. At the time, a No10 spokesperson said he would "follow the guidance for vaccinated close contacts, including daily testing and limiting contact with others".
Martin Compston and the AC-12 team have carried out their biggest interrogation yet - with Boris Johnson in the hot seat.
Line of Duty's crack trio have reunited to grill Boris Johnson in a new spoof episode.
Boris Johnson – check it out below.For their latest release, the satirical duo repurposed Rage Against The Machine‘s 1991 protest anthem ‘Killing In The Name’ in response to recent allegations that Downing Street hosted various parties during lockdown.The clip begins with the PM asking the British public to “limit contact with other people” during a coronavirus press conference. “Now you do what I tell you,” Johnson adds over an instrumental of the classic Rage single.“As you comply, I socialise/ With cheese and wine, and forty guys/ From ‘Next slide please’ to wine and cheese/ The rules you see, don’t apply to me,” Johnson says in the style of the original track.