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<\/p>\nBoris Johnson is facing mounting pressure, including from senior members of his own party, over claims he attended a “bring your own booze” party in Downing Street during the first lockdown.<\/p>\n
The alleged party on 20 May 2020 is one of several lockdown-breaking gatherings which are said to have taken place across government during the pandemic.<\/p>\n
The prime minister is facing questions in the House of Commons over the latest allegation that he attended a drinks event at Number 10, with a senior Tory describing the claims as “indefensible” and Labour’s deputy leader saying his position is now “untenable”.<\/p>\n
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What has Boris Johnson said about lockdown parties?<\/strong><\/p>\n ‘The cheese and wine party’<\/strong><\/p>\n On 15 May 2020, Boris Johnson, his wife Carrie, former chief adviser Dominic Cummings, and Mr Johnson’s key aide Martin Reynolds were pictured sitting in the Number 10 garden.<\/p>\n The image, published by the Guardian last month, appears to show the group enjoying wine and cheese as they sit at a table, while other groups are pictured also seemingly enjoying drinks in the Downing Street garden.<\/p>\n Mr Johnson later insisted: “Those were people at work talking about work. This where I live and where I work… and I really think it’s vital if we focus, if we can, on the messages we’re trying to get across today.”<\/p>\n Downing Street parties latest: Follow live updates<\/strong><\/p>\n ‘The bring your own booze party’<\/strong><\/p>\n Mr Johnson and his wife are also said to have been present at a “bring your own booze” Downing Street garden party a few days later on 20 May 2020.<\/p>\n Mr Reynolds had invited more than 100 Downing Street employees to “make the most of the lovely weather” with “some socially distanced drinks”, according to a leaked email seen by ITV News.<\/p>\n Asked whether he had attended the party, Mr Johnson said: “All that is a subject for investigation by Sue Gray.”<\/p>\n The prime minister repeated that response when asked if Ms Gray, the civil servant who is investigating the party allegations, had spoken to him about the claims.<\/p>\n At the time of the alleged gathering, Britons had only recently been allowed to meet with one person from another household outside as long as they remained two metres apart.<\/p>\n What parties are alleged to have taken place in Whitehall and Downing Street during lockdown?<\/strong><\/p>\n ‘Christmas cheese and wine party – with Secret Santa’<\/strong><\/p>\n On 1 December 2021, Mr Johnson said “all guidance was followed” after Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer accused him of breaking coronavirus rules with a “boozy party” over the Christmas period in 2020.<\/p>\n The prime minister told Sir Keir: “All the guidelines were observed and continue to be observed.”<\/p>\n Mr Johnson said later: “I apologise for the impression that has been given that staff in Downing Street take this less than seriously.<\/p>\n “I’m sickened myself and furious about that.”<\/p>\n He continued: “But I repeat what I have said to him: I have been repeatedly assured that the rules were not broken. I repeat that I have been repeatedly assured since these allegations emerged that there was no party and that no COVID rules were broken.”<\/p>\n Staff reportedly held the cheese and wine night in Downing Street on 18 December 2020, just days after stricter Tier 3 restrictions come into effect in London – meaning people were not allowed to mix indoors with anyone outside their household or support bubble.<\/p>\n The party reportedly carried on until 2am with Secret Santa gifts exchanged.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/e3.365dm.com\/22\/01\/768x432\/skynews-oliver-dowden-20may2020_5638128.jpg\")
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