It is reported that two gatherings were held in the same night
Downing Street staff drank alcohol at a party the night before Prince Philip’s socially-distanced funeral, reports the Telegraph. The Queen was famously forced to sit alone to mourn her husband, in line with the covid regulations of the time.
On 16 April 2021, the county mourned the passing of the Duke of Edinburgh. Union Jack flags hung at half-mast on Government buildings across Westminster to mark the funeral.
With the country under lockdown regulations, which banned indoor mixing, mourners were warned not to leave flowers due to the Covid threat. A book of condolences set up online instead.
At the Princes’s funeral, the Queen, whose face was covered by a black face mask, said goodbye to her husband of 73 years with nobody to comfort her during the service.
Now it is alleged that the night before, staff at Downing Street gathered for two separate events to mark the departure of two colleagues – one of whom was James Slack, the Prime Minister’s director of communications, and the other was one of Mr Johnson’s personal photographers.
According to the Telegraph, eye-witnesses claim that alcohol was drunk, while, at points, guests danced to music. The gatherings reportedly went on until after midnight, with another source saying that it was – undeniably – a party.
The Government’s own guidance read: “You must not socialise indoors except with your household or support bubble. You can meet outdoors, including in gardens, in groups of six people or two households.”
Boris Johnson was not in Downing Street that day, according to a No 10 spokesman, after he had departed for Chequers, the Prime Minister’s country house, on Thursday evening.
Around 30 people are thought to have attended at both gatherings combined.
Sources claim that somebody was sent to the Co-op on the Strand with an empty suitcase, which was then filled with bottles of wine and brought back to Downing Street.
It comes after Boris Johnson finally admitted he attended the No 10 “bring your own booze” party during the height of the first lockdown and offered his “heartfelt apologies”.
Boris Johnson says Downing Street party was ‘technically within the rules’ then expects you to buy his apology #PMQs pic.twitter.com/Y3zG9m2xYW
— PoliticsJOE (@PoliticsJOE_UK) January 12, 2022
Related links:
- Keir Starmer delivers four-word takedown of Boris Johnson on Twitter
- Boris Johnson finally admits he attended No 10 garden party
- Boris Johnson is about to finally face the music over Downing Street party – here’s what might happen
