Boris Johnson made plans to implement the Tier 4 Covid lockdowns restrictions that ruined Christmas for many when a party was going on in No10, it is reported.
The-then Health Secretary Matt Hancock's WhatsApp messages are believed to show that plans were being drawn up for the restrictions while the No10 Christmas bash was taking place on December 18, 2020.
The Mirror first revealed details of the party when we broke the first story of lockdown bashes in Downing Street and Whitehall.
Sue Gray’s Partygate report gave the date of the party that was held at Downing Street where Mr Johnson was in a room with civil servants as the alcohol flowed - and later cleaners had to remove wine stains from the walls.
And on the same evening, the Prime Minister was in the Cabinet room putting together plans that would see the public in Tier 4 areas endure stiff lockdowns over the festive period.
It is revealed in the latest tranche of Mr Hancock's leaked messages published by The Daily Telegraph.
The newspaper showed exchanges between the health secretary and Simon Case, the then permanent secretary at the Cabinet Office.
Following the party on December 19, Mr Johnson told the public that the Covid “situation had deteriorated”.
He stated: “I met ministers on the Covid Operations Committee last night and again first thing this morning, and Cabinet met at lunchtime to agree the following actions.
“First, we will introduce new restrictions in the most affected areas – specifically those parts of London, the South East and the East of England which are currently in tier 3,' the then Prime Minister said.
“These areas will enter a new tier 4... that means residents in those areas must stay at home, apart from limited exemptions set out in law.
“Second, we are issuing new advice on travel... We are asking everyone, in all tiers, to stay local.”
It comes as other revelations from the leaked messages where ministers and senior officials discussed the need to "get heavy" with the police over the enforcement of Covid lockdown regulations.
There is an exchange between Mr Hancock and and Mr Case from August 2020, in which the then permanent secretary raised the question: "Who actually is delivering enforcement?"
Mr Hancock replied "I think we are going to have to get heavy with the police", prompting Mr Case to point out that they were due to have a roundtable meeting with ministers and the "cops".
Following another meeting in January 2021 involving Mr Johnson, Mr Hancock messaged Mr Case to inform him that the "PM was in vg shape" and that "the plod got their marching orders".
The Mirror has contacted Downing Street for comment.
