Cops have confirmed 20 people will be fined for attending lockdown-busting parties in Downing Street and Whitehall.
Detectives from Scotland Yard have been investigating 12 gatherings during the pandemic, including as many as six events Boris Johnson is believed to have attended.
The Prime Minister is not expected to be among those included in the first wave of fines, which is understood to contain the most straight-forward cases.
The PM's spokesman said Downing Street had not been informed by the Met that Mr Johnson is among those referred to the ACRO Criminal Records Office, which is responsible for issuing the penalties.
"We've said we'll update if that were to occur but our position has not changed," he said.
From bring a bottle to the suitcase of wine, here are all the parties the Met Police are probing.
May 20, 2020: The infamous “bring your own booze” party in the Downing Street garden.
An email sent by the Prime Minister's then Principal Private Secretary Martin Reynolds invited around 100 staff to a bash at the height of lockdown to "make the most of the lovely weather", before signing off: "Please join us from 6pm and bring your own booze!"
The Prime Minister was allegedly there with his wife Carrie Johnson, reportedly along with 40 others.
One witness told the Sunday Times: “There were 40 people in the garden, including Boris and Carrie. There were long tables laden with drink, crisps, sausage rolls and other picnic food. It was a proper booze-up.”
June 18, 2020: A new party uncovered by Sue Gray at 70 Whitehall to mark the departure of a No 10 private secretary.
The event had not previously been disclosed before the Whitehall enforcer launched her investigation, but The Telegraph reported the official was former home affairs policy adviser Hannah Young, who left Downing Street to take up the role of deputy consul general in New York.
Around 20 people attended the knees-up.
June 19, 2020: Boris Johnson’s “surprise” birthday party in his Downing Street flat. Carrie Johnson led staff in a chorus of Happy Birthday while the PM was presented with a cake.
Long-standing ally Conor Burns famously tried to defend the Prime Minister's attendance by saying he was "ambushed with a cake" and was only there for ten minutes.
He said of the do: “They came to his office with a cake, they sang happy birthday, he was there for ten minutes – I don’t think most people looking at that at home would characterise that as a party.”
November 13, 2020: Two parties. One in the No 11 flat, said to have been thrown by Carrie to celebrate the exit of Dominic Cummings. The second next door for Lee Cain, the PM’s departing director of communications.
Boris Johnson is said to have given a leaving speech to say farewell to former spin doctor Lee Cain.
Sources told the Mirror a relatively small number of people gathered for drinks in No10’s ‘round table room’ to mark two top aides’ departure.
The flat get-together later became known as the 'Winner Takes It All' party as Mrs Johnson is said to have blasted the Abba song.
December 17, 2020: Three parties. Kate Josephs, former Director General of the Covid Taskforce, given a send off. There was a Cabinet Office “Christmas party”, with an online quiz. Thirdly, a gathering in No 10 for the departure of an official.
Ms Josephs, who is now chief executive of Sheffield, said she was "truly sorry" for the boozy event, which was said to have been attended by dozens of Cabinet Office staff.
December 18, 2020: The big Christmas party at No 10, first revealed by the Mirror. Downing Street dodged questions for a week before bombshell video emerged of staff joking about it.
Officials knocked back glasses of wine and held a Secret Santa while the rest of the country was forced to stay at home.
The raucous Christmas party, first revealed by the Mirror, was said to have been attended by 40 of the Prime Minister’s top team.
Officials knocked back glasses of wine and held a Secret Santa while the rest of the country was forced to stay at home.
According to later reports, people made speeches and stayed until 2am, with Boris Johnson not present but working a few rooms away in his office.
“It was a Covid nightmare,” one source told the Mirror.
Mr Johnson claimed in the Commons that all guidance was followed, but later a video emerged of a mock press conference in which the former press secretary Allegra Stratton joked about the knees-up and the lack of social distancing.
Former press secretary Allegra Stratton was forced to resign over a video which emerged of her joking about the event.
January 14, 2021: Revealed for the first time as part of Sue Gray’s report is a gathering in No 10 Downing Street on the departure of two private secretaries.
Sources told the Guardian one these events was held in Downing Street in part as a leaving do for a senior policy adviser who is now a top civil servant working in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
The prosecco-fuelled evening was said to have included a speech by Boris Johnson.
April 16, 2021: Two parties took place and later joined together on the eve of Prince Philip's funeral. Despite the Union flag flying at half mast at Buckingham Palace and the Queen attending her late husband’s funeral alone, Downing Street staff wheeled a suitcase filled with wine into No 10.
Downing Street apologised to Buckingham Palace after reported details emerged of boozy drinks parties, including a leaving do for communications director James Slack.
