A new video has emerged showing Conservative Party staff celebrating a Christmas party when Covid restrictions were in force - the first time footage has been made public of one of the rule-breaking gatherings in Westminster. It comes just days after former prime minister Boris Johnson was found to have misled MPs over parties at 10 Downing Street while he was in power.
The festive event took place at Conservative Campaign Headquarters on December 14, 2020. In the video, two dancers twirl past a sign saying "Please keep your distance".
The Sunday Mirror reports that at least 24 people were present, including two named on Mr Johnson's controversial resignation honours list. In December 2020 restrictions were in place that prevented groups from socialising indoors.
Last year a Metropolitan Police investigation looked at a still image from the Conservative Party gathering seen in the video. The force found insufficient evidence of law breaking and no fines were issued.
The Daily Mirror published a picture of the gathering in December 2021. It showed staff members and volunteers in close quarters, raising glasses of wine.
The video shows a karaoke machine with flashing lights. When one man sees he is being recorded, he says: “Oh Christ.”
Another asks: “Are you filming this?” Someone else responds: “It’s for party, erm, party use.”
A man then laughs after saying: “As long as we are not streaming that we’re, like, bending the rules.”
The party was reportedly organised by the campaign team of then London Mayor candidate Shaun Bailey – now Lord Bailey after Mr Johnson made him a peer in his honours list. Mr Bailey had left the party before the video was taken.
The footage also features Ben Mallet, the Tories’ campaign director for the 2021 London mayoral election, who now runs the campaign of Moz Hossain, who wants to stand in next year’s mayoral race.
Just days after the party took place, Mr Johnson announced tighter restrictions for many areas of the country. A Metropolitan Police investigation concluded last November that the “photo by itself is not sufficient evidence on which to assess that an offence had been committed”.
A spokesman for the Met said at the time: “The investigation reviewed all the material thoroughly and, after careful consideration, it was determined that there was insufficient evidence to disprove the version of events provided by attendees to a standard that would meet the threshold required.”
After the picture emerged, Mr Bailey apologised “unreservedly” for the event and resigned as chair of the London Assembly’s police and crime committee. He tweeted: “I gave a speech to my team to thank them... it was a serious error of judgment at a time when Londoners were making immense sacrifices to keep us all safe and I regret it wholeheartedly.”
A spokesman for the Shaun Bailey campaign said: “This is an old story. We repeatedly apologised for this event at the time. It was subject to a nearly year-long police investigation. The matter is closed.”
Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner said: “Revellers openly mocked the rules the British people followed. The Tories think it’s one rule for them and one rule for everyone else.
“Instead of forcing them to face the consequences, Rishi Sunak has caved into Boris Johnson and chosen to reward them with honours. It’s a sickening insult.”
A CCHQ spokesman said: “Senior CCHQ staff became aware of an unauthorised social gathering in the basement of Matthew Parker Street organised by the Bailey campaign on the evening of 14 December 2020. Formal disciplinary action was taken against the four CCHQ staff who were seconded to the Bailey campaign.”
Last week Parliament's privileges committee said Mr Johnson would have faced a 90-day suspension from the Commons had he not already resigned as an MP.
Boris Johnson’s spokesman declined to comment on the video when approached by The Mirror.
