Under-pressure Prime Minister Boris Johnson is claimed to have led some of the 'partygate' celebrations police are currently handing out fines for. Mr Johnson is braced for further tickets for attending parties during the Covid lockdowns, including the leaving bash for former director of communications Lee Cain in November 2020.
According to the Mirror, the event began with the press office having drinks to round off the week but turned into a party once Mr Johnson arrived. An official photographer was even believed to have been present throughout and taken pictures of the PM breaking the rules.
"This wasn't a leaving drinks. This was the usual press office Friday evening wash-up drinks," one insider told the Sunday Times. "Boris came fumbling over, red box in tow, and he gathered the staff around the press office table, which did have bottles of alcohol on it. He said he wanted to say a few words for Lee and started pouring drinks for people and drinking himself. He toasted him."
