The Metropolitan Police have opened a new investigation and reopened a previous inquiry into potential breaches of Covid regulations in Westminster in 2020 and 2021.
The force is revisiting an inquiry into a party held at Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) on December 14 2020, while Covid restrictions were in place. Last month, a video emerged, with footage obtained by the Sunday Mirror appearing to show Conservative staff dancing and joking about lockdown rules.
Invitations for the gathering, obtained by the BBC, show that it was described as a "Jingle & Mingle Christmas Drinks".
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The Metropolitan Police said on Tuesday: “The Met … previously carried out an investigation into an event in Matthew Parker Street on December 14 2020. Based on the information available at the time, that investigation did not lead to FPNs [fixed penalty notices], but outcome letters sent to some participants stated that ‘the Metropolitan Police reserves the right to revisit this decision in the event that further significant evidence comes to light.
"The receipt of video evidence has resulted in the Met revisiting and updating the assessment.”
Meanwhile a fresh probe has been launched for an event held in the same month, relating to a birthday celebration for Anne Jenkin, the wife of Privileges Committee member Sir Bernard Jenkin.
The Met Police said: “Following assessment of material relating to a gathering in Parliament, the Met is opening an investigation into potential breaches of the regulations at an event on December 8 2020.”
Former prime minister Boris Johnson has previously accused Sir Bernard Jenkin, the most senior Conservative member of the Commons Privileges Committee, of “monstrous hypocrisy” after the Guido Fawkes website reported the MP had gone to the drinks party in Parliament while Covid restrictions were in place.
However the force will not open an investigation into further potential breaches of the regulations in Downing Street, and Thames Valley Police will not investigate potential breaches at Chequers, the grace and favour country residence, when Boris Johnson was prime minister.
The Metropolitan Police previously issued 126 FPN referrals following a probe into claims of Covid rule breaching parties at Downing Street and Whitehall under the investigation Operation Hillman.
