Michael Gove has issued an apology over a "terrible" Partygate video revealed by The Mirror showing Tories at a lockdown rule-bending Christmas bash in December 2020.
The senior Cabinet minister said the footage is "completely out of order" - but declined to be drawn into whether the Metropolitan Police should launch a probe, reports the Mirror. The previously unseen video shows staff boozing, dancing and mocking lockdown laws at the height of Covid at Conservative Campaign Headquarters.
One attendee can be heard saying: "As long as we don't stream that we're, like, bending the rules," before laughing while a man and woman hold hands and dance. Mr Gove told Sky's Sophy Ridge on Sunday show: "I want to apologise to everyone who, looking at that ... will think these people are flouting the rules designed to protect us all."
Join our WhatsApp Top Stories and Breaking News group by clicking this link
CCHQ said "formal disciplinary action" was taken against four staff members, who were seconded to the London mayoral campaign of Shaun Bailey, over the "unauthorised" event. But Mr Gove added the footage may not have been available to those investigating at the time.
In the exclusive footage, shared by The Mirror, two people even dance past a sign advising people to “Please keep your distance”. At least 24 revellers were there and, shockingly, they include two named on ex-PM Boris Johnson’s controversial resignation honours list.
The video will anger families who lost relatives in Covid, while reigniting criticisms of Mr Johnson just days after he was slammed for misleading MPs over parties at No10. The party was held on December 14, 2020, just days after large areas of the UK were barred from socialising indoors.
Last year a widely seen picture of the party formed part of the Met Police’s probe. But no fines were issued as the force had only still images to go on and found insufficient evidence of law breaking.
But the damning video throws new light on the affair and the Met says it will assess whether it could be material to an inquiry. 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.”
The party was 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.
Featured in the video is Ben Mallet, who was awardeded an OBE in Mr Johnson’s list. Mr Mallet, filmed holding a glass of red wine and wearing festive braces, was the Tories’ campaign director for the 2021 London mayoral election. He now runs the campaign of Moz Hossain, who wants to stand in next year’s mayoral race.
In the video two revellers knock over wine glasses as they spiral into a table laden with buffet food. The unsteady pair twirl each other around to the sounds of The Pogues’ Fairytale of New York.
It is the first time footage has emerged of one of the rule-breaking parties in Westminster. In the video, which shows a karaoke machine with flashing lights, partygoers joke about how they are breaking the rules.
When one man sees he is being recorded, he says: “Oh Christ.” Then another asks: “Are you filming this?” Someone else responds: “It’s for party, erm, party use.” A man then laughs after declaring: “As long as we are not streaming that we’re, like, bending the rules.”
It was just days after the party that Mr Johnson announced even tighter restrictions which meant people in the areas worst hit by Covid could not see their loved ones over Christmas.
For more of today's top stories, click here.
READ NEXT:
