Boris Johnson claims No 10’s lockdown parties followed the guidance
When Harold Wilson said that a week is a long time in politics, he could almost have been predicting the current merry-go-round of issues and what would have passed for scandals under any other UK government.
To sum up, Jacob Rees-Mogg is under investigation for not declaring £6m in loans; Matt Hancock may have misled the House by denying he'd given contracts to a friend; and Boris Johnson may have broken his own rules by throwing a party in No. 10 – and all that news happened today?
— Dan Rebellato (@DanRebellato) December 1, 2021
While he was right that a lot can change in a week, he may not have appreciated how much people would care about the actions of a year ago, particularly when those actions seem grossly unfair and reflective of a larger pattern.
On Tuesday, a story emerged suggesting 10 Downing Street had hosted parties – plural – during the Christmas season of 2020, at a time when much of the country, including London, was under restrictions specifically banning large unnecessary gatherings.
Wednesday’s @DailyMirror front page: It’s One Rule For Them: Boris Party Broke Covid Rules https://t.co/maDc2Uoa7x pic.twitter.com/NAMVR3Pa5X
— Pippa Crerar (@PippaCrerar) November 30, 2021
One Downing Street insider tells the FT there were often get togethers in the evenings in No 10 while the country was in lockdown last Christmas.
“It was the only place you could get together and socialise. They happened most Fridays." https://t.co/0aDx94LzEa
— Laura Hughes (@Laura_K_Hughes) December 1, 2021
As the country went into lockdown last Christmas, Downing Street held a party.
It's one rule for them. #PMQs pic.twitter.com/OoSN9F1OBL
— Dr Rosena Allin-Khan (@DrRosena) December 1, 2021
People weren’t exactly surprised, and their reactions included pissed off and pisstake.
It was great fun. Games included Privatised Monopoly, Postponed Operation and Truth Twister. https://t.co/aI3wbxRoZD
— THE SECRET TORY (@secrettory12) December 1, 2021
Neil Ferguson breaks lockdown: resigns
Matt Hancock breaks lockdown: resigns
Dominic Cummings breaks lockdown: (eventually) resigns
Boris Johnson breaks his own lockdown with a massive piss-up in the very place where he told the country to go into lockdown: Fuckity-Bye, mate. https://t.co/JlidAFSdzT— Count Binface (@CountBinface) December 1, 2021
For people asking if I attended the rule flouting Downing Street parties, a straightforward answer: No. I have a strict policy of leaving any room that Boris Johnson enters. #OneRuleForThem https://t.co/7P0Ig5d6ty
— Larry the Cat (@Number10cat) December 1, 2021
NO NOT BORIS I DON'T BELIEVE IT https://t.co/OWrnCikStl
— Adam Kay (@amateuradam) November 30, 2021
I can neither confirm nor deny that we had a boozy Christmas party at No 10 during lockdown last December, because I was too drunk to remember.
— Parody Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson_MP) December 1, 2021
So I guess he technically saved one Christmas pic.twitter.com/Y8obKqNKqE
— James Felton (@JimMFelton) December 1, 2021
With the story dominating social media, Keir Starmer dived straight in at Prime Minister’s Questions.
Keir Starmer – As millions of people were locked down last year.. was a Christmas party thrown in Downing Street on Dec 18th?
Boris Johnson – All the guidance was followed..
KS – The rules last year were very clear… you must not have a work Xmas lunch or party. #PMQs pic.twitter.com/Ll9QM8doWc
— Haggis_UK (@Haggis_UK) December 1, 2021
“All guidance was followed completely during No. 10.”
That’s not even a full sentence. During No. 10 what? ‘During No. 10’s existence in the 1800s’ is a very different ending to ‘during No. 10’s boozy parties last December.’
