Labour tonight demanded Boris Johnson investigate a claim that a mock award on gender equality was dished out at No10’s lockdown Christmas party.
Deputy leader Angela Rayner wrote to the Prime Minister after an insider told the Sunday Times a staffer was singled out ironically for a "sexist of the year award", during a satirical ceremony on 18 December 2020.
The newspaper printed the claim today but it has since been removed from its website. It is understood the nature of what happened - including the name of the tongue-in-cheek 'award' - is disputed.
While the Mirror understands there was a mock award, it is thought it was used to encourage more female representation in TV interviews.
The December 2020 bash is one of 12 being investigated by the Met Police in Downing Street and Whitehall.
Ms Rayner today demanded No10 answer a string of questions about the event. These include whether an award presentation took place, who presented it, who was given it, and whether the PM approved.
“Please could you also confirm whether other awards were presented during the course of this gathering, and if so, whether those award categories related to any other protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010?” she wrote.
The deputy leader said No10 was “rotten to the core” under Boris Johnson, and told him in her letter: “You are ultimately responsible for the culture and activity that takes place within Downing Street under your administration.
“If true, these allegations are not only at odds with your professed opposition to sexism but set a terrible example and must result in further action.
“Please could you confirm what action will now be taken?"
The December 18 party - originally revealed by the Mirror - took place while Londoners were told by law not to socialise indoors.
Downing Street dodged questions for a week about the do, before bombshell video emerged of staff joking about it. That video led to the tearful resignation of the PM’s former Press Secretary Allegra Stratton.
Officials knocked back glasses of wine and held a Secret Santa, with reports suggesting people made speeches and stayed to 2am.
Boris Johnson was not present but was working a few rooms away in his office.
Calls are growing for a huge shake-up of Westminster’s culture in the wake of the Tory porn scandal.
Parliament is once again engulfed in sleaze and sexism allegations - five years after the “Pestminster” affair was meant to have triggered an overhaul.
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has calld for “radical” reform to working practices after a series of bullying and sexual misconduct offences involving MPs.
He said: “I take recent allegations of bullying and sexual impropriety, comments and advances very seriously, which is why it is time we reviewed our working practices, particularly whether it is right that individual MPs are the employers of their staff.
“The question is - ‘Should someone else, or an outside body, employ the staff, as long as the MP has the right to choose them?’
“That is why I am working with the political parties and House authorities to establish a Speaker’s conference as soon as possible to consider these issues.”
The latest crackdown could see fresh curbs put on MPs’ boozing on the parliamentary estate.
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng admitted allegations of sexual harassment were “extraordinary and unacceptable” - but said shutting Parliament’s bars would be “excessively puritanical”.
“No, they shouldn’t all be shut, I don’t think we should have an excessively puritanical, severe regime in that regard,” he told Sky News.
“I don’t think there is a culture of misogyny; I think the problem we have is people are working in a really intense environment, there are long hours and I think generally most people know their limits.”
Speaking to BBC1’s Sunday Morning, he added: “I think we’ve got to distinguish between some bad apples, people who behave badly, and the general environment.
“There are some bad apples, there are people who have acted very badly, and they should be held to account.”
