Leaked footage shows No 10 staff joking about the party that “didn’t happen”
A development in the Schrödinger’s party row might just open the box and put all arguments to bed.
In a video leaked to ITV News, Downing Street’s then Press Secretary Allegra Stratton is seen rehearsing how she might handle a briefing if journalists were to somehow discover that a party had taken place on the 18th of December.
Here’s the footage.
Special Adviser, Ed Oldfield: I’ve just seen reports on Twitter that there was a Downing Street Christmas party on Friday night, do you recognise those reports?
Stratton: I went home. Hold on hold on, erm, err.
Oldfield: Would the prime minister condone having a Christmas party?
Stratton: What’s the answer?
The story was broken on Twitter by ITV’s Paul Brand and Robert Peston.
Paul Brand followed up his post with the news that the clip could be the thing that pushes the Met Police to actually investigate the allegations.
BREAKING: The Metropolitan Police say they are reviewing our footage of Downing Street staff laughing and joking about a Christmas party as they consider whether or not to investigate. pic.twitter.com/rqIsGhh5wr
— Paul Brand (@PaulBrandITV) December 7, 2021
Here’s how the Leader of the Opposition reacted.
People across the country followed the rules, even when that meant being separated from loved ones.
They had a right to expect the government was doing the same.
To lie and to laugh about those lies is shameful.
We have a Prime Minister who’s socially distanced from the truth. https://t.co/h6t0mzHBRF
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) December 7, 2021
Other politicians were swift to condemn the apparent rule-breaking and attempted cover-up.
Worse than Hancock or Barnard Castle.The Prime Minister allowed his staff to party in *Downing Street* as ordinary people were charged by police for gathering, as millions cancelled Christmas & some died without family to hold them. If true, this is a clear-cut resignation matter https://t.co/kCCVZDMeoB
— Caroline Lucas (@CarolineLucas) December 7, 2021
Christmas celebrations were cancelled, families torn apart, loved ones died, goodbyes never had, hugs not felt, jobs lost.
All of this, while Downing Street held parties, and laughed at the rest of us. pic.twitter.com/Q0he5Xw5dE
— Dr Rosena Allin-Khan 💙 (@DrRosena) December 7, 2021
While people lost their lives, No10 partied. While people stuck to the rules, No10 broke them. While the nation suffered, they joked.
This is absolutely sickening. They are laughing at us all. It's one rule for them and another for the rest of us.
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) December 7, 2021
They were far from alone in their condemnation.
1.
Know what that footage of them having the fake press conference is? They’re practising for if they got caught. Well. They have been now.
— Emma Kennedy💙 (@EmmaKennedy) December 7, 2021
2.
After all the sacrifices the people of this country have made, they’re laughing at us. Pretty unforgivable.
— Gary Lineker 💙 (@GaryLineker) December 7, 2021
3.
Maybe having a government run by poshos and Horse Girls wasn’t such a good idea. pic.twitter.com/RYEqNr3icf
— Ash Sarkar (@AyoCaesar) December 7, 2021
4.
Dear TV presenters,
When the minister comes on your show tomorrow and tells you it was a business meeting
Ask them about the wine
…the cheese
…and then the secret Santa
— Marina Purkiss (@MarinaPurkiss) December 7, 2021
5.
I hope this goes like the Blair Witch Project, where we've heard rumours & many say it didn't exist, but then more & more found footage emerges until we see one of Truss in tears as they've run out of cheese and Raab standing in a corner because he can't work out how to leave https://t.co/QLL69iSmUa
— Tiernan Douieb (@TiernanDouieb) December 7, 2021
6.
I wonder whether he can sack someone for laughing about a party he said never happened.
— James Oh Brien (@mrjamesob) December 7, 2021
7.
oh you fucking sniggering pricks. https://t.co/q5L2q3TJXN
— Sarah Phelps (@PhelpsieSarah) December 7, 2021
8.
I don’t want to jump the gun here but I’m getting the distinct impression that this government and everyone in or around it is a lying hollowed-out bastardhttps://t.co/4Me3AG5scH
— Max Morgan 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ (@SpillerOfTea) December 7, 2021
9.
And I would have gotten away with it too if it wasn’t for you meddling camera crew asking me to practice denying the crime a full year before it was revealed
— James Felton (@JimMFelton) December 7, 2021
