Two more Downing Street parties took place while the country - including the Queen no less - endured strict lockdown restrictions, it has been revealed.
The Telegraph reports that two leaving parties took place on 16th April 2021, the night before Prince Philip’s socially distanced funeral, and when the country was in step two of the lockdown roadmap - meaning no indoor mixing, and rule of six outside.
One of the parties was for James Slack, Johnson’s director of communications, while the other was for a photographer. Around 30 people attended the combined events, which merged during the night, and Johnson was not at Downing Street at the time, according to reports.
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Meanwhile, there was music, alcohol and a source claims a member of staff even broke Wilf Johnson’s swing. The next day, a photo of the Queen sitting alone at her husband’s funeral, due to the rules in place at the time, tugged on the nation’s heartstrings.
As yet another allegation of rule-breaking hit the internet last night, here’s what people had to say about it.
Do they ever actually have time to fit in any work around all the parties??
— Shirts Shirts Shirts (@JRBulman) January 13, 2022
so, basically they were all getting hammered like at a teenage disco? no wonder Matt Hancock got off with a girl in the bogs
— Alice Lowe (@alicelowe) January 13, 2022
Tbf it sounds like a very fun place to work
— Olivia Alabaster (@OliviaAlabaster) January 13, 2022
when you live above a nightclub pic.twitter.com/7KWfZaKtW1
— Toby Earle (@TobyonTV) January 13, 2022
Sue Gray pours herself a fishbowl of wine.
— Scott Bryan (@scottygb) January 13, 2022
Sue Gray tonight pic.twitter.com/7LjakUF5Xd
— Declan Cashin (@Tweet_Dec) January 13, 2022
"While employed by Downing Street, I was sent to the Co-op on the Strand to fill a suitcase with bottles of wine for a lockdown-busting party held at Number 10 in honour of the future deputy editor of the Sun." pic.twitter.com/qzABbU5Wjl
— Jim Waterson (@jimwaterson) January 13, 2022
put Johnson’s next audience with The Queen on Pay Per View, pay off the national debt in one go
— . (@twlldun) January 13, 2022
“I’m travelling to Downing Street, which my Bradshaw’s guide assures me is still the best place to get an alcoholic drink at any time in Lockdown London” pic.twitter.com/4cDOhSFIUM
— Mo' (@mocent0) January 13, 2022
Can’t wait for @NadineDorries to blame the swing. https://t.co/ehMcXmMJjb
— James Oh Brien (@mrjamesob) January 13, 2022
Downing St really cancelled Eid, said “the BAME community” were not taking the rules seriously enough and then had multiple illegal parties
— Pistachio (@HarleyShah) January 13, 2022
It's just gets worse and worse. They have no shame.https://t.co/qN772mtyqF
— Rachel Reeves (@RachelReevesMP) January 13, 2022
Get resignation done. https://t.co/mwetfbZUIq
— Tim Farron (@timfarron) January 13, 2022
Enough is enough. https://t.co/DNWaJxE1Bc
— Wes Streeting MP (@wesstreeting) January 13, 2022
For Gods sake. Who do they think they are?
— Yvette Cooper (@YvetteCooperMP) January 13, 2022
The Queen sat alone at her husband’s funeral out of respect for Covid rules & for the country.
Yet this lot who made the rules think they are above them & show no respect for anyone by partying again https://t.co/TW8AMGKmVU
“I unintentionally walked into the raucous disco, which I implicitly felt was a night long vigil for the Duke” https://t.co/OuugZEzGen
— Jack Blackburn (@HackBlackburn) January 13, 2022
Shameful and disgusting behaviour. Our country deserves better than this. The rot starts at the top, @BorisJohnson resign now https://t.co/8nUSS2JdeW
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) January 13, 2022
Is there a day when there wasn’t a party in Downing St.? https://t.co/uBfrfQ0LW0
— Gary Lineker 💙 (@GaryLineker) January 13, 2022
This image holds all the loss so many felt …..and the words all the arrogant disrespect… https://t.co/g0ILBft2de
— Deborah Meaden 💙 (@DeborahMeaden) January 13, 2022
Her Majesty The Queen abided by the rules of lockdown like thousands of other grieving families. She showed dignity and respect for others who were also suffering loss.
— Naomi Long MLA (@naomi_long) January 13, 2022
It now seems she, along with all those others, has been completely disrespected by No 10.#ResignBorisJohnson https://t.co/KOSjdj2LOw
My God these people are awful. Truly awful. https://t.co/e1FTVJIFWJ
— Chris Bryant (@RhonddaBryant) January 13, 2022
The fish rots from the head. The culture in Downing Street is one of disregard and impunity. Answer me this, do you think this would have happened under Theresa May? https://t.co/3BteubOEF2
— Jess Phillips MP (@jessphillips) January 13, 2022
"A pint of wine? This is nothing, the No10 lads drink it by the suitcase" pic.twitter.com/KCQPbvbuax
— Michael Deacon (@MichaelPDeacon) January 13, 2022
Sorry but "Wilf Johnson's Swing Set" isn't a child's plaything it's a 1940s jazz band
— Michael Docherty (@maybeavalon) January 13, 2022
We will remember them. pic.twitter.com/0qCP0DXzaZ
— PoliticsJOE (@PoliticsJOE_UK) January 14, 2022
A No 10 spokesperson commented on Slack’s leaving party and told the Telegraph: “On this individual’s last day he gave a farewell speech to thank each team for the work they had done to support him, both those who had to be in the office for work and on a screen for those working from home.”
Meanwhile, Slack apologised for the event:
NEW: James Slack, former No10 Director of Communications, says he wants to “apologise unreservedly for the anger and hurt caused” by his leaving do, which he says “should not have happened at the time that it did”.
— Tony Diver (@Tony_Diver) January 14, 2022
Our report last night 👇https://t.co/sWrFcO9NX4
A spokesman for the Prime Minister said Downing Street had said sorry to the Palace following the reports.
The spokesman said: “It is deeply regrettable that this took place at a time of national mourning and No 10 has apologised to the Palace.
“You heard from the PM this week, he’s recognised No 10 should be held to the highest standards and take responsibility for things we did not get right.”
Asked why No 10 had apologised rather than Boris Johnson himself, the spokesman said: “Well, again, the Prime Minister said earlier misjudgments have been made and it’s right people apologise, as the PM did earlier this week.
“It remains the case that I can’t prejudge the inquiry, which you know is ongoing, which has been led by Sue Gray, but we acknowledge the significant public anger, it was regrettable this took place a time of national mourning.”
