A Union Jack cake was part of a birthday celebration held for Boris Johnson as he turned 56 during the first lockdown, it has been reported.
The 'surprise party' for the Prime Minister, first reported by ITV News is the latest claim about gatherings in breach of coronavirus rules that is putting ever-increasing pressure on his premiership.
The Times reports the PM's wife Carrie Johnson and interior designer Lulu Lytle, who was working on the Downing Street flat at the time, presented Mr Johnson with a Union Jack cake while his wife led staff in a chorus of Happy Birthday on June 19, 2020.
A Times source said members of Johnson’s team had been emailed in advance asking them to come to “wish the prime minister happy birthday” and around 30 guests were reported to be there.
ITV News also reported the claim there was also Marks & Spencer party food while people stayed for around 30 minutes.
Downing Street conceded staff “gathered briefly” in the Cabinet Room following a meeting after it was alleged 30 people attended and shared cake despite social mixing indoors being banned.
Interior designer Lulu Lytle admitted attending but insisted she was only present “briefly” while waiting to talk to Mr Johnson about the lavish refurbishments she was carrying out to the couple’s flat above No 11.
A Downing Street spokeswoman said: “A group of staff working in No 10 that day gathered briefly in the Cabinet Room after a meeting to wish the Prime Minister a happy birthday. He was there for less than 10 minutes.”
Sue Gray was understood to have already been aware of the birthday party allegations and therefore their emergence will not further delay the publication of her inquiry, which is still expected this week.
The senior civil servant has been investigating a series of claims of rule-breaking parties in No 10 as Mr Johnson faces calls to resign as Prime Minister, including from some of his own Conservative MPs.
