Partygate

Downing Street, the location of some of the parties and other gatherings, pictured in December 2019.

This article is part of a series about Boris Johnson
Political positions Electoral history MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip MP for Henley Editor of The Spectator Mayor of London Mayoralty 2008 mayoral election "Boris Island" "Boris Bikes" New Routemaster 2011 riots 2012 mayoral election Emirates Air Line 2012 Summer Olympics 2012 Summer Paralympics Garden Bridge European Union referendum Brexit causes Vote Leave EU referendum aftermath Foreign Secretary Yemen intervention Zaghari-Ratcliffe case 2018 Salisbury attack Chequers plan Party leadership campaign 2019 election polling endorsements reactions Darroch resignation Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Premiership First ministry and term First ministry departures Suspension of rebel MPs Benn Act 2019 prorogation Supreme Court case Brexit deal renegotiation Revised deal 2019 general election Get Brexit Done Second ministry and term Second ministry departures 2020 reshuffle 2021 reshuffle EU Withdrawal Agreement COVID-19 pandemic government response vaccination programme contracts controversy Cummings scandal Partygate Levelling up COP26 Health and Social Care Levy Refurb controversy Second jobs controversy
v t

Partygate^[a] is a political scandal in the United Kingdom, regarding parties and other gatherings of government and Conservative Party staff held during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, when public health restrictions prohibited most gatherings. While several lockdowns in the country were in place, gatherings took place at 10 Downing Street, its garden and other government buildings. These were first reported on from late November 2021 and attracted media attention, public backlash and political controversy. In late January 2022, twelve gatherings came under investigation by the Metropolitan Police, including at least three attended by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Fixed penalty notices have begun to be issued to individuals who the Police believe committed criminal offences.

Allegations were first reported on 30 November 2021, by the Daily Mirror, that some 10 Downing Street staff had held gatherings during the 2020 Christmas season. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said rules had been followed, and Downing Street denied that a party took place. A week later, video of a mock press conference held in 10 Downing Street was broadcast by ITV News in which joking comments about a party having taken place were made. Allegra Stratton, then Downing Street press secretary, featured in the video, and resigned her subsequent Government position after the video surfaced. Shaun Bailey resigned from a number of his positions, including chair of the London Assembly's Police and Crime Committee, after admitting to a party on 14 December 2020 with Conservative Party staff. In January 2022, reports emerged that there were around 30 in one account, and 40 in another, attendees at a gathering with drinks on 20 May 2020 in the garden of 10 Downing Street during the first national lockdown. Johnson said that he attended and apologised for doing so. Downing Street apologised to Queen Elizabeth II for two further gatherings held on 16 April 2021, the day before Prince Philip's funeral, during a third lockdown across England. Reports followed of a gathering at which Johnson's birthday was celebrated with a cake in June 2020.

After the press conference video leaked, on 8 December 2021 Johnson announced a Cabinet Office inquiry would be undertaken by the Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, to investigate whether COVID-19 restrictions were broken at that or other staff events. Case stepped back from the inquiry on 17 December, amid reports that his own office had also held a party in December 2020, and responsibility for the inquiry was handed to Sue Gray. In January 2022, the Metropolitan Police opened its own investigation into potential breaches of COVID-19 regulations in government buildings, leading to uncertainty over the timing and possible content of Gray's report. An update on Gray's investigation was published on 31 January 2022, which found some behaviour related to the gatherings "difficult to justify", with some of the gatherings representing a failure of leadership and to uphold standards expected of the government and public. It also said that "excessive consumption of alcohol is not appropriate in a professional workplace at any time".

Public disquiet over how government staff and others in Westminster were perceived to have been breaking restrictions led to a decline in public support for Prime Minister Johnson, the government and the Conservatives, and is thought to have contributed to the party's loss of the 2021 North Shropshire by-election. In January 2022, a number of opposition, and a few Conservative, politicians called for Johnson's resignation or a no confidence vote. In February, five senior Downing Street staffers resigned.

Background[]

COVID-19 lockdowns in the United Kingdom[]

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, a UK-wide lockdown began on 23 March 2020, made under a new statutory instrument. This was an explicit stay-at-home order that prohibited all non-essential travel and social gatherings.^[1] Some rules were incrementally relaxed in the following months in England; starting from 13 May, "two people from separate households were permitted to meet outside in a public place, such as a park, provided they stayed 2 metres apart".^[2] Six people were allowed to socialise outdoors by June, and indoor social gatherings were only permitted from 4 July and only between members of two households.^[3]

Prime Minister Boris Johnson at a press conference on 16 December 2020, when he announced London would be moved to "Tier 3" rules.^[4]

With the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, a second national lockdown started in England on 5 November 2020. A regional tiered lockdown system replaced this on 2 December.^[5] London was initially placed in "Tier 2", was moved to the highest level "Tier 3" on 16 December, and finally placed under a newly introduced stay-at-home order, "Tier 4", on 19 December. People socialising between households or outside of support bubbles was not allowed throughout this period.^[6] Household mixing and socialising for Christmas itself was also restricted to a small number of households and only permitted on 25 December across much of the UK, and in London was cancelled altogether.^[7]

On 5 January 2021, a third lockdown began across the whole of England. This was gradually lifted in a series of steps beginning 29 March, with social contact limited to groups of six from no more than two households, with social distancing, and only permitted outdoors, into April.^[8][9]

Westminster[]

10 Downing Street is a government building in the City of Westminster, central London, used by some staff in the Cabinet Office. It also contains a personal flat designated for the prime minister, though Boris Johnson uses the larger flat in the adjoining 11 Downing Street. The Cabinet Office is based at 70 Whitehall, which is connected to 10 and 11 Downing Street.

In December 2021, an article in The Spectator argued that COVID-19 restrictions, that rely on the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984, may not legally apply to 10 Downing Street as it is Crown Land,^[10] while a second article argued against this, on the basis that relevant COVID-19 laws applied to individuals rather than land.^[11] In December 2021, Jenny Jones, a Green Party member of the House of Lords, asked the government to clarify the matter and Nicholas True, a Minister of State at the Cabinet Office, replied: "No 10 Downing Street is a Crown property. Regulations under the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984 which relate to the activities of people, apply regardless of whether those activities took place on Crown property or not".^[12][13]

Timeline of reporting and reaction[]

2021[]

Downing Street, the location of some gatherings.

Up to 8 December[]

On 30 November 2021, the Daily Mirror reported allegations that some Downing Street staff had held three gatherings in November and December 2020, when London was under COVID-19 tier 3 lockdown restrictions.^[14] The restrictions prohibited indoor gatherings of more than six people, with exceptions for certain work-related activities.^[5] A leaving party for an aide was reported to have been held on 27 November 2020 and attended by Johnson. A Christmas party on 18 December was reported, and a smaller gathering on 13 November "where they were all getting totally plastered".^[14][15] The official response to the report in the Daily Mirror was that "Covid rules have been followed at all times".^[16] Johnson said rules had been followed, and Downing Street denied that a party had taken place.^[17][18]

The following day, other media outlets reported further details of the alleged event on 18 December, with BBC News reporting it involved "drinks, nibbles, and games" and a source told the Financial Times that parties were vital for Downing Street staff to relieve stress. Downing Street responded by saying "We don't recognise these accounts". At Prime Minister's Questions, Johnson told the House of Commons, "All guidance was followed completely [in] Number 10".^[19] On 3 December, Labour MP Barry Gardiner wrote to the Metropolitan Police asking them to investigate but they responded saying that they do not normally investigate "retrospective breaches of the Covid-19 regulations". Vaccines minister Maggie Throup appeared on the BBC's Question Time and stated "all guidance was followed" and dismissed reports as "rumour and hearsay". On 5 December, the Justice Secretary Dominic Raab told Andrew Marr that if a "formal party" had taken place "then of course it would be wrong" but that the reports were based on "unsubstantiated, anonymous claims" which is why Downing Street did not respond more directly.^[16] Raab also stated "the police don't normally look back and investigate things that have taken place a year ago", about which a Full Fact investigation concluded "Police often investigate alleged offences which took place years before. This is less clear cut in the context of breaches of Covid-19 regulations, which police say they do not routinely investigate retrospectively."^[20] On 6 December, former government adviser Dominic Cummings alleged that unnamed journalists attended the reported party and that it was "very unwise for No 10 to lie" about the events.^[21][16] The prime minister's spokesperson reiterated, "There was not a party and Covid rules have been followed at all times" and when challenged about how this could be true responded, "I don't need to get into the positions we've taken. It is simply just a statement of fact".^[16]

Then-Downing Street Press Secretary Allegra Stratton, who appeared in a leaked video that was part of the controversy, and subsequently resigned.

On 7 December 2021, ITV News released a video, in which Allegra Stratton and other Downing Street staff – during a mock press conference on 22 December 2020 – made joking references to a Christmas gathering in 10 Downing Street four days earlier on 18 December 2020.^[22] The leaked 47-second clip^[23] began with media advisor Ed Oldfield playing the role of a journalist and asking Stratton "I've just seen reports on Twitter that there was a Downing Street Christmas party on Friday night, do you recognise those reports?" In response, Stratton and other Downing Street staff joked about the "fictional party" being just "cheese and wine" and a "business meeting", with "no social distancing".^[24] The Guardian reported that the video gave "the strong impression that a staff-based party took place on 18 December 2020 and that No 10 officials realised that they were likely to have broken rules".^[24] BBC News reported that the event had "several dozen" attendees, and that "party games were played, food and drink were served, and the party went on past midnight".^[25] The Times reported allegations that the party was organised via WhatsApp with staff requested to bring Secret Santa gifts.^[26]

On 8 December, following the release of the video and in response to further requests for an investigation, the Metropolitan Police said that they had "received a significant amount of correspondence relating to allegations reported in the media that the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations were breached at gatherings at No 10 Downing Street in November and December 2020" and that "all this correspondence has been considered by detectives in detail, as well as footage published by ITV News". They concluded that the "correspondence and footage does not provide evidence of a breach of the Health Protection Regulations, but restates allegations made in the media. Based on the absence of evidence and in line with our policy not to investigate retrospective breaches of such regulations, the Met will not commence an investigation at this time".^[27]

9 December onwards[]

According to BBC News on 9 December, Jack Doyle, the deputy Downing Street Director of Communications at the time, was understood to have attended the event on 18 December, gave a speech, and handed out awards at the function.^[28] On 10 December, the government's Chief Whip Mark Spencer said that the event had been a "meeting", rather than a social gathering.^[29] The New York Times commented that, according to some, the government was not following the rules it had set for the general population.^[30]

On 11 December, reports emerged that two dozen HM Treasury staff gathered for drinks on 25 November 2020 to celebrate Chancellor Rishi Sunak's Autumn Spending Review.^[31] On 12 December Downing Street confirmed that Johnson "briefly" took part in a virtual Christmas quiz held at the venue on 15 December 2020 after the Sunday Mirror published a picture of him participating via his computer in the event, in a room with two other people. Downing Street said he was there to thank staff for their work during the pandemic and that the event was a "virtual" one, while Johnson himself responded that he "certainly broke no rules".^[32][33]

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) also confirmed that staff working past normal employment hours drank alcohol and ate takeaway "late into the night" on a number of occasions during COVID restrictions after this was reported by the Sunday Mirror. A DWP spokesman said: "The team regularly worked late into the evening and on a number of occasions they ate takeaway food and drank some alcohol".^{[34][better source needed]}

Northern Ireland First Minister, Paul Givan, and his deputy Michelle O'Neill, said that the controversy had damaged the public health message in Northern Ireland.^[35] On 12 December, The Independent reported that senior police officers feared people would be less likely to comply with any new COVID restrictions because of the controversy. The newspaper said they had gathered anecdotal evidence of terse exchanges between police officers and members of the public in early December 2020.^[36]

Shaun Bailey resigned as chair of two London Assembly committees after admitting to attending an event with a buffet and drinks on 14 December 2020.

On 15 December, former Conservative candidate as Mayor of London, Shaun Bailey, resigned from his position as chair of the London Assembly's Police and Crime Committee after photographs were published of him and over 20 members of staff at an event with drinks and a buffet held in the basement of Conservative Campaign Headquarters on 14 December 2020, when he was a mayoral candidate. Those attending included four aides seconded from the Conservative Central Office, who were subsequently disciplined. Cabinet member Grant Shapps stated that the event was "absolutely unacceptable", and not authorised by the Conservative Party.^[37][38] The Metropolitan Police later said they would contact two people who were at the party over possible breaches of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations.^[39]

On 16 December, The Guardian and The Independent, in a joint investigation, reported allegations that Johnson attended a party in Downing Street on 15 May 2020, during the first national lockdown. Downing Street issued a statement saying "On 15 May 2020 the prime minister held a series of meetings throughout the afternoon, including briefly with the then health and care secretary and his team in the garden following a press conference. The prime minister went to his residence shortly after 7pm. A small number of staff required to be in work remained in the Downing Street garden for part of the afternoon and evening."^[40] On 19 December The Guardian published a photograph of the event showing 19 people drinking wine and said that "there are no laptops, files or notepads to take minutes on show". Johnson was shown sitting next to his then-fiancée, Carrie Symonds, who was holding their newborn son. Downing Street insisted that the photograph showed a work meeting.^[41]

The Metropolitan Police referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), the police watchdog, on 17 December, following a complaint by Green Party peer Jenny Jones, who said that there was a "conflict of interest and a potential cover up" in relation to the police declining to investigate an allegation that a party took place in Downing Street in the run-up to Christmas 2020, and their role and involvement in the policing and security of the buildings.^[42]

2022[]

Up to 19 January[]

In a blog post on 7 January, Dominic Cummings argued that the photo from 15 May 2020 in the garden of 10 Downing Street did not show a party.^[43] He described having a work meeting with Boris Johnson and the Prime Minister's Principal Private Secretary Martin Reynolds, with Carrie Symonds subsequently joining them.^[44][45] Meanwhile, according to his account, various other groups of people were also meeting in the garden, and staff had been advised to meet outside in the garden where there was less risk of COVID-19 transmission.^[43]

Cummings said that there was a "socially distanced drinks" gathering in the garden on 20 May 2020 that he and another special adviser cautioned against.^[44][45] On 10 January, ITV News showed a 20 May 2020 email sent on behalf of Reynolds to over one hundred 10 Downing Street staff, inviting them "to make the most of the lovely weather and have some socially distanced drinks in the No 10 garden this evening.... bring your own booze!" Various news organisations reported that around 30–40 people were present that evening, eating picnic food and drinking, including Johnson and Symonds.^[46][47][48] In his 15 January 2022 column in The Times, Tim Shipman relayed accounts of a meeting of Johnson's team which was held in Downing Street on 11 January, the day after ITV News showed the Reynolds email. He said it was obvious that Johnson was furious with them, and had left them in no doubt that he thought they had let him down. Also that Johnson's view seemed to be "that he is not to blame, that everyone else is to blame" and had asked "How has all this been allowed to happen? How has it come to this? How haven't you sorted this out?" Shipman wrote that sources present said senior staff "studied the floor". Shipman added that "insiders said Reynolds, his deputy, Stuart Glassborow, Dan Rosenfield, ... and some members of the communications team are likely to be out of a job when a report by the mandarin Sue Gray is published". Shipman added that an MP likened it to Harold Macmillan's 1962 Night of the Long Knives (when he sacked a third of his cabinet), "Boris is preparing to lay down the lives of his staff to save his own. It will be the Night of the Long Scapegoats".^[49] Johnson initially declined to comment on whether he was present or not.^[50] A spokesman for the prime minister said he still had confidence in Reynolds.^[51] Campaigners, including the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group, called for Reynolds to be dismissed.^[52]

On 11 January, the Metropolitan Police said it was in contact with the government over "widespread reporting relating to alleged breaches" of COVID rules.^[53] There was additional reporting of a party in Downing Street on 18 December, with Reynolds said to have been present.^[54] Shaun Bailey resigned as chair of a second London Assembly committee, the economy committee, in addition to his resignation from the police and crime committee in December.^[55] Opposition party leaders Ed Davey^[56] and Nicola Sturgeon called on Johnson to resign.^[57] Tory donor, John Caudwell told Boris Johnson to, "sort it out or step aside", Caudwell added, "Each one of these new revelations gives greater force to the accusation that areas of the government think it's 'one rule for them, one rule for the rest of us'.^[58] The Good Law Project announced that it had started legal proceedings against the Metropolitan Police over their refusal to investigate reports of the 18 December 2020 party.^[59]

On 12 January, Johnson, speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, said that he had attended the gathering and apologised for doing so.^[60] He said that he was present for about 25 minutes and that he thought it was an allowed work meeting. He said, "I should have recognised that even if it (the gathering) could be said technically to fall within the guidance, there would be millions and millions of people who simply would not see it that way."^[61]

The leader of the opposition, Keir Starmer, called on the prime minister to resign in the House of Commons. Other MPs also called on Johnson to resign,^[62] including Scottish Conservatives leader Douglas Ross.^[63] In response to Ross's comments, the Leader of the House of Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg referred to Ross as a "lightweight".^[64] Michael Gove, the levelling up secretary, was similarly dismissive of Ross's comments.^[64] On 13 January 2022, 27 of the 31 Conservative Scottish MSPs came out publicly against Johnson after his appearance in Parliament the previous day.^[65] Articles in New Statesman and The Guardian, among others, criticised the wording of Johnson's apology for being insufficient.^[66][67]

On 13 January, it was reported that two separate parties were held in 10 Downing Street on 16 April 2021. These were leaving events for James Slack, Johnson's director of communications, and a photographer. The date was the eve of the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, when the UK was observing a period of national mourning, and England was in step two of its lockdown roadmap, with indoor mixing banned. Johnson was reported to be out of London at the time.^[68][69][70] The photographer's party reportedly involved loud music, a DJ and a staff member sent to the Co-op store on the Strand to fill a suitcase with bottles of wine.^[71] The next day, Slack and Downing Street confirmed there was an event, with Slack apologising for what happened.^[72] Number 10 apologised to Queen Elizabeth II for the two parties that were held.^[73]

On 14 January, The Independent reported that Johnson had drawn up a plan, named "Operation Save Big Dog", in an attempt to retain his premiership. The plan included a list of officials who should resign over the parties controversy, a communications strategy for cabinet ministers, as well as "sounding out support" for leadership rivals from backbenchers.^[74] The Daily Mirror reported that Downing Street staff had regular Friday evening events with wine, for which a dedicated fridge was bought, being delivered on 11 December 2020. What were called "Wine time Fridays" were purportedly scheduled into the diaries of about 50 staff from 4–7pm. Johnson was reported to visit some of these and to be aware of their existence.^[75] 10 Downing Street did not deny the allegations.^[76]

On 16 January, in a column in The Times, Dominic Lawson said a former Downing Street official had told him of at least two people warning Johnson that the 20 May 2020 event should be cancelled and that Johnson said they were "overreacting".^[77][78] Johnson's spokesperson said that the report was not accurate, although other journalists were reported to have corroborated it.^[79] On 17 January, Cummings reiterated his claim that Johnson knew in advance about the party, that Cummings raised concerns about it and that Johnson said it could go ahead, and consequently that Johnson had lied to Parliament about what happened. Cumming said he would "swear under oath this is what happened". Sky News reported a second source also said Johnson had been warned in advance about the party.^[80] BBC News Online reported that two other former Downing Street officials said "they remembered Mr Cummings telling them that day he had warned the prime minister not to allow the drinks to go ahead".^[81]

Starmer accused Johnson of breaking the law. Starmer, a one time Director of Public Prosecutions said, "I think he broke the law. I think he's as good as admitted that he broke the law. (...) I think it's pretty obvious what's happened, this industrial-scale partying had been going on at Downing Street, not much of it is really denied, and I think that the public have made up their mind. I think the facts speak for themselves. I think the Prime Minister broke the law, I think he then lied about what had happened. (...) Once Sue Gray has come to her findings, she will set out all the facts, she is very well respected, I think that all of those should be passed to the police to look at."^[82]

Andrew Bridgen, Conservative MP said, “It doesn't matter whether the prime minister was present or not present—ultimately, he is responsible for what goes on in the government, he's responsible for the culture in No. 10 and what we're seeing is a culture where there's one rule for them and the rest of us do what we're told.”^[83]

A photograph of Keir Starmer drinking from a bottle of beer in a constituency Labour Party office shortly before the Hartlepool by-election in May 2021 was republished by some media in January 2022. Starmer denied being in breach of the rules in place at that time, explaining he was working late with staff and they ate a takeaway together.^[84] Starmer stated, "There is simply no comparison" with the culture in Downing Street, and added Conservatives who brought it up were trying "to take everyone into the gutter with them".^[85] The police later cleared Starmer of any wrongdoing.^[86] Starmer stated, "I was clear throughout that no rules were broken. And here's the contrast (...) from Sue Gray, and 12 cases being referred to the Metropolitan Police in relation to the Prime Minister and the goings on in Downing Street. Because the Metropolitan Police consider there was evidence not only of offences, but they were serious enough and flagrant enough to put aside their usual rule that they won't investigate 12 months after the event. So that's a huge contrast, as there always was in this case."^[87]

On 17 January, the Daily Mirror reported that Johnson attended a leaving party for Steve Higham, his former defence advisor, shortly before Christmas 2020 while strict coronavirus restrictions applied in London. Johnson was reported to have attended for a few minutes and to have given a speech.^[88][89]

On 18 January, The Guardian reported that Conservative rebel MPs had a plan to oust Johnson from office, named "Operation Rinka", after the dog that was shot in the Thorpe affair.^[90] On the same day, Johnson gave an interview to Beth Rigby, after to one of his immediate family had tested positive for COVID the previous week^[91] and having not appeared in public himself for nearly a week.^[92] He repeatedly apologised and said of the 20 May 2020 event, "I'm saying categorically that nobody told me, nobody said this was something that was against the rules". Sky News reported that one Conservative MP described Johnson in the interview as "absolutely beaten"^[93] and Rigby described him as looking "defeated".^[92] The i described the interview as "excruciating".^[94]

When Simon Hattenstone asked Keir Starmer about Johnson saying he did not know it was a party Starmer said further, "The cover-up isn't worse than the crime, but the cover-up compounds the crime. Johnson's now on his third defence. His first defence when we tackled him on this at the beginning of December was: 'I've been assured there were no parties,' and his second defence when the video came out was: 'I'm furious there have been these parties; I've only just found out.' And if the third defence is true, then obviously the first two are false – and that's a major problem for him."^[95]

24 January onwards[]

On 24 January, ITV News reported that a surprise birthday get-together was held for Johnson on 19 June 2020, allegedly organised by Carrie Symonds. Up to 30 people are said to have been present, including Johnson, Symonds, and interior designer Lulu Lytle who was working on Johnson and Symonds' flat at the time. It was said that a Union Jack cake was served and attendees sang "Happy Birthday".^[96] Downing Street said the prime minister attended for less than 10 minutes.^[97][98] A spokesperson for Lytle's company said "Lulu was not invited to any birthday celebrations for the Prime Minister as a guest. Lulu entered the Cabinet Room briefly as requested, while waiting to speak with the Prime Minister".^[97] The Chancellor Rishi Sunak was reported to have been "unintentionally present" when the cake was served, whilst waiting for a meeting.^[99] The Guardian reported Downing Street sources saying that, in the evening, Johnson celebrated outside with family, as allowed under the then rules.^[100] ITV News also alleged that family friends then went up to Johnson's flat. A Number 10 spokesperson denied this, saying, "This is totally untrue. In line with the rules at the time the prime minister hosted a small number of family members outside that evening".^[97] More than two people were forbidden to socialise indoors, while up to six were allowed outdoors.^[98] Sue Gray, who is running an inquiry into events, was reported to have known about the event prior to the news breaking.^[100]

On 25 January, in an interview with Channel 4 News, Northern Ireland Minister Conor Burns defended the prime minister by stating that, rather than being a pre-planned party, the prime minister was "ambushed by a cake".^[101] Burns' comments were ridiculed online in a series of memes,^[102] including a tweet from celebrity chef Nigella Lawson, who quipped that "Ambushed By Cake" should be the title of her next cookbook.^[103][104] Burns later told The Daily Telegraph's podcast "that there actually wasn't a cake".^[105] On 28 January, it emerged that The Times had published an article in June 2020 reporting the gathering on Johnson's birthday and that he "tucked into a Union Jack cake".^[105][106]

Keir Starmer again called on Johnson to resign. Conservative peer, Baroness Warsi said Johnson should, "think long and hard about what is in the best interest of this country. (...) Is me staying in office allowing me to run this office in a way in which is making the country better, or am I a distraction?"^[98] On 28 January, Starmer said that "the whole of government is paralysed because the police are now looking at what the PM was getting up to in Downing Street".^[107] Starmer said further scandals connected with Johnson increased calls for Scottish independence and damaged the United Kingdom.^[108] Alistair Carmichael (Liberal Democrat) and Ian Blackford (SNP) both said that the delay increasingly gave the appearance of an establishment "stitch-up".^[109]

Late on 29 January, The Times reported that Gray had discovered that friends of Carrie Johnson's knew the PIN code to access her flat with Boris Johnson in 11 Downing Street. Cummings said that, in early 2020, he discovered highly confidential Government documents were left lying around in the flat, leading to him and Martin Reynolds instituting tighter controls on what papers left Johnson's office.^[110][111]

Gray commented on the use of the Garden of 10 and 11 Downing Street in her update.

An update on Gray's investigation was published on 31 January 2022, with an accompanying debate in the Commons. Starmer said, "The prime minister repeatedly assured the House that the guidance was followed and the rules were followed. But we now know that 12 cases have breached the threshold for criminal investigation (...) including the party on May 20 2020, which we know the prime minister attended, and the party on November 13 2020 in the prime minister's flat. There can be no doubt that the prime minister himself is now subject to criminal investigation. (...) it is already clear what the report disclosed is the most damning conclusion possible."^[112]

Unable to publish her full report because of the ongoing police investigation, Gray published an update on her investigation. This covered a number of events that had not previously been reported. Media coverage in the following days filled in details of these. Meanwhile, Cummings said there were photos of the alleged 13 November party in the Johnsons' flat.^[113]

In the Commons debate on the topic, Johnson said Starmer "spent most of his time [as Director of Public Prosecutions] prosecuting journalists and failing to prosecute Jimmy Savile". Full Fact fact checkers said "Starmer was head of the CPS when the decision was made not to prosecute Savile but he was not the reviewing lawyer for the case". The BBC "found no evidence that Sir Keir was involved at any point in the decision not to charge Savile." Commons speaker, Lindsay Hoyle also criticised Johnson's accusation.^[114][115] Three days later Johnson stated that he was "not talking about the leader of the opposition's personal record when he was DPP. I was making a point about his responsibility for the organisation as a whole". Munira Mirza, Director of the Number 10 Policy Unit, publicly resigned on 3 February, saying Johnson should have apologised. On the same day, Jack Doyle quit as Johnson's communications director.^[116] Doyle talked about the difficulty of his job in recent weeks, but also said that he had always intended to only work in government for two years. Starmer later needed police protection following a mob threatening violence outside parliament. Starmer and others blamed Johnson for inciting the disturbance. Starmer experienced online death threats, he said, "It's very important for me to say that what the prime minister said was wrong, it was very wrong. He knew exactly what he was doing."^[117]

10 Downing Street then announced the resignations of both Dan Rosenfield, Johnson's chief of staff, and Martin Reynolds, his principal private secretary. Sky News described this as "an apparent mass exodus from Downing Street amid the fallout from the partygate scandal." Rosenfield and Reynolds will continue in their roles until their successors are appointed.^[118] On 4 February, BBC News reported that Johnson's official spokesman said Doyle's, Rosenfield's, and Reynolds's resignations were as a result of "mutual decisions".^[119] A fifth adviser in the Number 10 Policy Unit, Elena Narozanski, resigned the following day.^[120] BBC News reported that energy minister, Greg Hands said the resignations came after Johnson "made it clear there would be a shake-up" in Downing Street organisation, following criticism of it in the Gray investigation update.^[121] Mirza considered Johnson's comment "scurrilous".^[122]

On 4 February the Daily Mirror reported sources saying the police had a photograph of Johnson with a can of Estrella beer standing next to Rishi Sunak at the 19 June 2020 Cabinet Room birthday event. It is reported to be one of the 300 images given by Gray to the Metropolitan Police, and to have been taken by the official No 10 photographer, Andrew Parsons.^[123][124]

During Prime Minister's Questions on 9 February, the Daily Mirror released another photograph from the 15 December 2020 Christmas quiz, showing Johnson and three other people - one wearing tinsel and one a Santa hat, and "what appears to be champagne and a half-eaten packet of crisps".^[125][126]

Events[]

It was initially reported that at least seven parties that may have been in contravention of COVID-19 restrictions took place in November and December 2020.^[127][128] Additional events from May 2020 to April 2021 were then reported. In addition to the specific dated events listed below, the Department for Work and Pensions confirmed staff drank alcohol and ate takeaway food together "on a number of occasions" while working late during the period of COVID-19 restrictions.^[129] The Daily Mirror reported that "wine time Fridays" were a regular occurrence at Downing Street throughout the period.^[76] On 22 January 2022, The Sunday Times reported that Gray was also investigating Carrie Johnson hosting two friends (who worked at the time for Michael Gove at 70 Whitehall, part of the Downing Street complex) in the Downing Street flat multiple times during lockdown. It was stated that the visits were for "work reasons", but a Whitehall source said that no officials were present.^[130] On 25 January 2022, the New Statesman published an analysis stating that "both Boris and Carrie Johnson do not believe they have done anything wrong, as they consider gatherings among those who worked at Downing Street during the pandemic to have been part of a 'household bubble'".^[131] The Guardian wrote that Gray looked into 16 events, police are probing 12 of them, including 6 that Johnson reportedly attended.^[132]

During first national lockdown[]

• 15 May 2020: about twenty people were present in the garden of 10 Downing Street, including Johnson;^[40] The Guardian published a photograph showing Johnson, Carrie Symonds, then Health Minister Matt Hancock and 17 staff members in the 10 Downing Street garden with cheese and wine.^{[133][134][41]} A spokesperson for 10 Downing Street described the gathering as a work meeting.^[129] Sky News reported anonymous sources as saying that some people stayed until late into the evening.^[133] Covered by Gray investigation; not under investigation by the Metropolitan Police as of 10 February 2022.^[135][136]
• 20 May 2020: Johnson's PPS, Martin Reynolds, invited staff at 10 Downing Street to what the invitation described as "socially distanced drinks". Johnson acknowledged being present for about 25 minutes, but said he thought the event was an allowed work meeting. Carrie Symonds also reportedly attended, as reportedly did Henry Newman, a Conservative councillor in Camden and then an aide to Michael Gove.^[137] Dominic Cummings, then an adviser to the PM, said that he and others warned against the event, and that he did not attend.^{[43][46][138]} Covered by Gray investigation; under investigation by the Metropolitan Police as of 10 February 2022.^[135][136]
• 18 June 2020: a gathering in the Cabinet Office, 70 Whitehall on the departure of a No 10 private secretary,^[135] reported to be Hannah Young by The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph, who left to become deputy consul general in New York. The Daily Telegraph also alleged that 20 people were present, including Reynolds, with alcohol consumed.^[139] Covered by Gray investigation; under investigation by the Metropolitan Police as of 10 February 2022.^[135][136]
• 19 June 2020: a surprise get-together for Johnson's birthday occurred in the Cabinet Room; Downing Street said Johnson attended for less than 10 minutes.^[97][100] Covered by Gray investigation; under investigation by the Metropolitan Police as 10 February 2022.^[135][136]
• 19 June 2020: there was also a birthday celebration in the evening: Downing Street said that "the Prime Minister hosted a small number of family members outside that evening", as allowed under the rules,^[97] but ITV News alleged family friends subsequently went up to Johnson's flat.^[97] Not covered by Gray investigation.

Mid-2020[]

• September 2020: A photo was taken of Carrie Johnson embracing a friend at an engagement party. She admitted to breaching social distancing guidelines and apologised.^[140] Not covered by Gray investigation.

During second lockdown in England[]

• 13 November 2020: a source told the BBC that staff had impromptu drinks at their desks to mark the leaving of Lee Cain, the prime minister's departing director of communications at 10 Downing Street, and that the gathering was over by 20:30.^[129] Johnson attended.^[113] It was reported that he visited Cain in his office and gave a farewell speech.^[141] Covered by Gray investigation; under investigation by the Metropolitan Police as of 10 February 2022.^[135][136]
• 13 November 2020: multiple sources, including Cummings,^[142] said Downing Street staff joined a gathering with the prime minister's then-fiancée, Carrie, in their flat above 11 Downing Street, playing ABBA's "The Winner Takes It All" to celebrate Cummings' departure.^[143] A spokesperson for Mrs Johnson denied there was any party.^[129][144] The Telegraph reported that Boris Johnson was also present.^[145] Covered by Gray investigation; under investigation by the Metropolitan Police as of 10 February 2022.^[135][136]
• 25 November 2020: Treasury staff were reported as gathering for drinks; The Times reported that around two dozen civil servants attended, but a Treasury spokesperson described an "impromptu" event with a "small number" of staff involved.^[129] Not covered by Gray investigation.
• 27 November 2020: it was reported that an informal leaving event for Cleo Watson, a 10 Downing Street aide, was held, and that the prime minister gave a speech.^[1] Covered by Gray investigation; not under investigation by the Metropolitan Police as of 10 February 2022.^[135][136]

With London in Tier 2[]

Government poster describing "Tier 2" social distancing rules, that were in place in London between 2 and 15 December 2020.

• 10 December 2020: Christmas party at the Department for Education's café hosted by the Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson and attended by the Permanent Secretary, Susan Acland-Hood; a department spokesman said that "a gathering of colleagues who were already present at the office" had taken place.^[146] A spokesperson confirmed that Williamson gave a speech and that "drinks and canapés" were served.^[147] Covered by Gray investigation; not under investigation by the Metropolitan Police as of 10 February 2022.^[135][136]
• 14 December 2020: Christmas party held by Shaun Bailey for his campaign team; Bailey admitted the party took place and resigned as chair of a London Assembly committee on policing. Disciplinary action was taken against four Conservative Party employees.^[38] Not covered by Gray investigation.
• 15 December 2020: a Christmas quiz took place for 10 Downing Street staff; Johnson took part over a remote connection.^[1] A Downing Street spokesperson said the event was all held virtually; other sources said teams were sitting together in a room.^[129][144] Covered by Gray investigation; not initially under investigation by the Metropolitan Police (as of 31 January 2022),^[135] but the Metropolitan Police were reviewing this decision in February 2022.^[136]

With London in Tier 3[]

Government poster describing "Tier 3" social distancing rules, that were in place in London between 16 and 19 December 2020.

• 16 December 2020: Christmas party by staff working for Grant Shapps at the Department of Transport; Shapps, who had not ben present, apologised for what happened.^[148][149] Not covered by Gray investigation.
• 17 December 2020: Simon Case's team had a Christmas party at 5.30pm in room 103 of the Cabinet Office, at 70 Whitehall.^{[150][1][129]} Sky News reported the event was described as a "Christmas party", that it was an hour long, and that it involved a quiz with the six people who were already in the office and around six more people attending virtually. Case did not take part in the event, but walked through the room.^[133] Covered by Gray investigation; under investigation by the Metropolitan Police as of 10 February 2022.^[135][136]
• 17 December 2020: Cabinet Office staff gathered with drinks to mark the departure of Kate Josephs, Director General of the COVID Taskforce.^[151] Josephs apologised for the event.^[152] Paul Scriven, a former Leader of Sheffield City Council, called for Josephs's resignation from her role as chief executive of Sheffield Council.^[153] Covered by Gray investigation; under investigation by the Metropolitan Police as of 10 February 2022.^[135][136]
• 17 December 2020: an additional gathering at 10 Downing Street is mentioned in Gray's interim update. The Telegraph reported that this was the leaving party for Boris Johnson's defence adviser Captain Steve Higham that had been previously reported as occurring in December. Boris Johnson reportedly attended and spoke.^[139][88]
• 18 December 2020: Christmas gathering at 10 Downing Street.^[154] Sky News described allegations of this being a "cheese and wine night", with sources saying around 40 people were in attendance and that it continued until 2am.^[133] Covered by Gray investigation; under investigation by the Metropolitan Police as of 10 February 2022.^[135][136]

During third lockdown in England[]

• 14 January 2021: A gathering in 10 Downing Street on the departure of two private secretaries. The Guardian reported sources saying some attending drank prosecco, and that Boris Johnson gave a speech and stayed for about 5 minutes.^[155] Downing Street declined to comment on the matter.^[139] Covered by Gray investigation; under investigation by the Metropolitan Police as of 10 February 2022.^[135][136]
• 16 April 2021: there were two leaving events (one for James Slack, Boris Johnson's director of communications; one for a personal photographer to Johnson) in different parts of Downing Street, which later merged into one, with about 30 people present. Johnson was not in London at the time.^[70] Slack (now deputy editor of The Sun) apologised for the event on 14 January 2022.^[156] Both parties took place on the evening before the funeral of Prince Philip on 17 April 2021, and featured alcohol and one of them featured loud music.^[70][157] The Telegraph reported partying continued from 6pm until 1am.^[158] Both gatherings are covered by the Cabinet Office investigation, and both are under investigation by the Metropolitan Police as of 10 February 2022.^[135][136]

Investigations[]

Cabinet Office inquiry[]

Simon Case

At Prime Minister's Questions on 8 December, Prime Minister Boris Johnson apologised for the video of the mock press conference, describing himself as "furious" about it, but maintained that, as far as he knew from senior staff, a party had not taken place and declared that an investigation would be undertaken by Cabinet Secretary Simon Case.^[159][160] Three hours later, Stratton, who featured in the video, resigned from her position as a Government spokesperson for the COP26 summit.^[161][162]

Sue Gray, the civil servant who is undertaking the inquiry

On 9 December, it was announced that the inquiry led by Simon Case would focus on three events, two at 10 Downing Street on 27 November and 18 December 2020, and one at the Department for Education on 10 December 2020.^[154] Johnson was said to have attended the event on 27 November, which is under inquiry.^[163]

On 17 December 2021, it was announced that Case would no longer lead the inquiry following reports that a party had been held in his own office on 17 December 2020.

Sue Gray

The inquiry was taken over by senior civil servant Sue Gray, Second Permanent Secretary in the Cabinet Office.^[164][165] Lord Barwell, a former Conservative MP and chief of staff for Theresa May when she was the prime minister, is reported by the BBC to have said "he could not think of a better person for the role". Two opposition politicians, Labour MP Chris Bryant and SNP MP Ian Blackford, called for the inquiry to be led by a person independent of the government and civil service.^[165]

In January 2022, ITV reported that Gray's investigation would also cover the 15 May 2020 photo and Dominic Cummings' allegations of parties on 20 May and 13 November 2020.^[166]

Alex Thomas, the civil service programme director at the Institute for Government told Channel 4 that Gray, as a civil servant, is not independent of government.^[167][168]

Gray interviewed over 70 individuals.^[169] Gray had reportedly questioned Johnson, by 17 January, about events^[170] and also Cummings, who insisted on only answering in written form.^[171] Robert Peston reported that she was to talk to a senior official who would also say that Johnson was warned that the 20 May event should not go ahead.^[172] Gray also had access to swipe card and other security data on people's movements in and out of 10 Downing Street,^[173] and has talked to police officers who were on duty, whose evidence was described by one source as "extremely damning".^[174] Sky News reported that Gray had received photos showing Johnson attending events with alcohol.^[175]

Gray's report was initially expected in the week beginning 24 January 2022^[176] and to be about 25 pages long.^[173] Labour and the Liberal Democrats asked for all accompanying evidence, including emails and witness accounts, to be published.^[177] Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab would not confirm that Gray's report would be published in full, and said that Johnson would decide how much detail would be released publicly.^[178]

Investigation update[]

Wikisource has original text related to this article: Investigation into alleged gatherings on government premises during Covid restrictions: Update

On 28 January, it was reported that the Metropolitan Police had asked Gray to "keep key details out of her report", of events that they were investigating, to avoid any prejudice to their investigation. They later explained that this was so they could collect independent accounts from individuals questioned.^[179] As a result, there was uncertainty over when, or even whether, Gray's report would be published.^[180][181] Instead of publishing her report, an eleven-page update^[182] was delivered first to Johnson and then published later on 31 January 2022.^[183] Johnson then made a statement to the Commons.^[169]

The update provided a list of 16 gatherings, including some that had not been previously reported in the media,^[179] and said that 12 were under investigation by the Metropolitan Police. Of the 12 under investigation, Gray said that due to this she was "extremely limited in what I can say about those events and it is not possible at present to provide a meaningful report setting out and analysing the extensive factual information I have been able to gather". She had decided not to describe the other four dates, writing, "I do not feel that I am able to do so without detriment to the overall balance of the findings."^[184][135]

The update concluded that at least some of the gatherings examined did not meet the standards expected of the public at the time. She wrote, "A number of these gatherings should not have been allowed to take place or to develop in the way that they did."^[184] It was critical of No 10 and the Cabinet Office,^{[179][185][169]} including over the consumption of alcohol and how some staff felt unable to raise concerns.^[184] Gray recommended the government address learnings of the update "immediately", rather than wait for the police investigation to conclude.^[169]

In response to the publication, Johnson said he would create a new Office of the Prime Minister, review the Civil Service code of conduct, and bring in other measures.^[186] In the ensuing debate SNP MP Ian Blackford was ordered to withdraw from the House of Commons for the remainder of the sitting day, by the Speaker, Lindsay Hoyle, after he repeatedly stated that Johnson had misled the House and refused to qualify his remarks to state that the misleading was "inadvertent".^[187][188]

Police investigation[]

A police inquiry, called Operation Hillman, was started into 12 gatherings on 8 different days,^[136] six of which Boris Johnson is alleged to have attended.^[189] The Daily Mirror states that Johnson was at at least seven.^[190] As of 10 February 2022, the inquiry was led by Commander Catherine Roper.^[191]

On 25 January 2022, the Metropolitan Police announced they would investigate potential breaches of COVID regulations in Whitehall and Downing Street during the pandemic.^[192] The police contacted the Cabinet Office on 24 January, asking for all relevant information from the Gray inquiry.^[193] Cressida Dick, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, said such investigations happened in potential cases of the, "most serious and flagrant breach" of rules, or when it appeared the people who did it, "ought to have known that what they were doing was an offence".^[194] They were initially reported to be investigating eight events.^[195] Sky News reported that the Metropolitan Police did not object to the inquiry being released before its investigation and that Gray is in communication with the police.^[193] The police investigation has more than 500 pages of documents and more than 300 images.^[179]

On 31 January, it was announced that the police were not planning to name anyone fined in relation to their investigation, raising the prospect that any sanctions taken against the prime minister and staff at No 10 would not be revealed.^[196][197] Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner said that "The public have a right to know if the prime minister is found to have committed an offence by the police."^[113] The police said they would announce the total number of penalties issued and what they were issued for. After some initial confusion, the Government said it would publish "everything we can", including if Johnson was fined.^[113] They have also said they will say if the Cabinet Secretary is fined.^[198]

In early February, the police said they would email a questionnaire to up to 90 people alleged to have been present at events,^[199] including Johnson and also, it was expected, his wife Carrie.^[136] Rishi Sunak, Simon Case and Martin Reynolds were also sent questionnaires.^[200][201] On 11 February 2022, 10 Downing Street confirmed that Johnson had received a questionnaire, which must be responded to within seven days. The police said it will ask what happened and "must be answered truthfully". Such questionnaires have the same status as information given in an interview under caution.^[202] Johnson is thus the first British Prime Minister to have been asked questions under caution.^[203]

Questionnaires included the statement, "You do not have to say anything but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you subsequently rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence."^[204] Questions included:

• "Did you participate in a gathering on a specific date?"
• "What was the purpose of your participation in that gathering?"
• "Did you interact with, or undertake any activity with, other persons present at the gathering? If yes, please provide details."
• "What, if any, lawful exception applied to the gathering and/or what reasonable excuse did you have for participating in the gathering?"

Also covered was what times someone attended an event and how many others were present.^[205]

Gray made her interview notes with staff available to those sent questionnaires by the police.^[206]

After submitting his questionnaire in late February, in an interview, Johnson would not say anything about the investigation at all, including about whether he would resign were police to find he broke lockdown laws.^[207]

On 21 March 2022 the police announced that they had sent out more than 100 questionnaires and that they had additionally started to interview witnesses.^[208]

On 29 March 2022 the police announced that they were to refer an initial 20 fixed penalty notices to the ACRO Criminal Records Office, which administers the process and collects any fines. As an individual might receive more than one notice, it was not known how many people were affected.^[209] Recipients of notices have 28 days in which to either pay or they can contest the fine. If they contest the fine, the case is then reviewed and either the notice is withdrawn or the case is referred to the courts.^[210]

Reactions[]

Since early December 2021, some British media have referred to the controversy over the alleged events as "Partygate".^[211] The term is similar to that used for previous political scandals and controversies.

Some commentators made comparisons between these possible social gatherings, and the lack of social contact when observing COVID restrictions when people were dying^{[212][213][214][215]} or at funerals.^{[216][217][excessive citations]} At Prime Minister's Questions on 8 December 2021, Keir Starmer, the leader of the Opposition, raised the example of Prof Trish Greenhalgh being unable to visit her dying mother in December 2020.^[218] The Conservative backbench MP Tracey Crouch said, "My constituents have every right to be angry. Their memories of lost loved ones are traumatised knowing that they died alone, first and last Christmases passed by, and many spent what is usually a special day by themselves."^[219]

On 7 December the story became the subject of political satire by Ant & Dec on the ITV entertainment show I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! A clip of this on social media was viewed 5 million times.^[220] On 14 January 2022 a flash mob of protesters dressed as Johnson, with Johnson masks, appeared chanting "my name is Boris" and "this is a work event" at the gates of Downing Street.^[221][222]

The controversy was seen as one factor in the Conservatives' loss of a by-election in North Shropshire, held on 16 December 2021.^[223] Laura Kuenssberg, the BBC's political editor, wrote that, "Boris Johnson has been put on notice by his own side" and discussed a possible challenge to his leadership.^[224] The New York Times,^[225][226] Foreign Policy^[227] and The Atlantic^[228] also suggested Johnson's political career was threatened by the controversy.

There was debate as to whether public disquiet about the controversy might lead to the public being less willing to adhere to new restrictions brought in response to the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, which began spreading in the UK in December 2021.^[229] However, Steve Reicher argued in The BMJ that any effect was likely to be small and that it could lead some individuals to be more adherent.^[230]

The Week,^[231] the BBC^[232] and The Daily Telegraph^[233] all selected a photo of Allegra Stratton giving her resignation statement as a key image of 2021.

The reported gathering on 16 April 2021, on the day before the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was compared by opposition politicians and The Guardian to the social distancing rules that applied to the funeral attended by Queen Elizabeth II.^[8][9] Professor Vernon Bogdanor said, "It shows that those in government feel entitled to break the rules which ordinary people have been observing".^[234] On 19 January 2022, in a statement to the London Stock Exchange, JD Wetherspoons founder Tim Martin accused Johnson of "hypocrisy", arguing that much of the controversy would have been avoided if Downing Street staff had been able to visit pubs, which at the time were closed due to lockdown restrictions.^[235] On the same day, the campaign group Led By Donkeys produced a spoof video of Johnson being questioned about the controversy by characters from the TV drama Line of Duty. It was viewed 5 million times with a day of publication.^[236][237]

BBC News reported that barrister Adam Wagner argued, "If you were doing something which wasn't necessary for work then you weren't outside of your house [with] a reasonable excuse and you were potentially committing a criminal offence." He went on to say that the prime minister and his wife had not left their home to attend as they live in Downing Street. Gatherings in a public place of more than two people were illegal unless they all belonged to the same household or the gathering was "essential for work purposes" and the BBC say "lawyers have noted that Downing Street is not a public place". On the day the party happened the government Twitter account summarised guidance (not legally enforceable) advising that outdoor gatherings should be limited to two people. By 20 May 2020, workplace gatherings guidance said, "Workers should try to minimise all meetings and other gatherings in the workplace."^[6]

Philip Mawer, former Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, and Alex Allan, Johnson's former independent advisor on ministerial standards, both said they felt Partygate and other scandals have eroded public confidence in the present system. Both maintained there needed to be an independent system for investigating ministers accused of problems. Currently the Prime Minister can decide not to hold an investigation and the public feel this can prevent desirable investigations being held.^[238]

After fixed penalty notices were issued in March 2022, Lib Dem leader Ed Davey said, "If Boris Johnson thinks he can get away with partygate by paying expensive lawyers and throwing junior staff to the wolves, he is wrong."^[239] Keir Starmer said that Johnson was either "trashing the ministerial code or he's claiming he was repeatedly lied to by his own advisers, that he didn't know what was going on in his own house and his own office". He said Johnson had to resign.^[240]

Within the Conservative Party[]

On 12 January 2022, many senior figures of the Scottish Conservatives called for Johnson to resign, including leader Douglas Ross and former leaders Ruth Davidson and Jackson Carlaw.^[241][242] On 13 January 2022, 27 of the 31 Conservative Scottish MSPs came out publicly against Johnson after his appearance in Parliament the previous day.^[65] William Wragg, the Conservative Chair of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Select Committee, called for Johnson's resignation, calling his position "untenable".^[243] On 13 January, Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen, in a comment-piece for The Daily Telegraph, stated that he had submitted a letter of no confidence in the prime minister and had called for him to resign, and Conservative MP Caroline Nokes also called for him to resign.^[244][245] The Sutton Coldfield Conservative Association voted unanimously to pass a motion calling for the prime minister to stand down.^[246] A poll of Conservative Party members conducted in early January 2022 by YouGov found that 38% felt that Johnson was doing a bad job as prime minister and 34% wanted him to resign. While these were both still minority positions, they were held by a much larger proportion of members than when YouGov had last polled Conservative members in the summer of 2020.^[247]

The Scotsman reported on 14 January that The Daily Telegraph had reported that as many as 30 Conservative MPs had signed letters to the 1922 Committee requesting a no confidence vote for Johnson.^[248]

On 15 January, former Conservative minister Tobias Ellwood told the BBC that Johnson had to "lead or step aside". Former children's minister and MP for East Worthing and Shoreham, Tim Loughton called for Johnson to resign, saying that his position was "now untenable".^[249]

Johnson faced more pressure from rebel MPs as they arrived back at Westminster on 17 January, after dealing with negative responses from Conservative associations and constituents. Some reported they had received almost 1,000 emails from dissatisfied voters.^[250]

The Times reported that, on the evening of 18 January, more than 20 Conservative MPs first elected in 2019 had met to discuss Johnson's leadership, with some preparing to submit letters of no confidence after Prime Minister's Questions on 19 January.^[251] The Evening Standard said that as many as 20 of the MPs were preparing to submit the letters.^[252] This was dubbed the 'Pork Pie Plot' (or 'Putsch'^[253]) by a Johnson loyalist minister as one of the MPs who was said to be involved, Alicia Kearns, represents Rutland and Melton, the town of Melton Mowbray being famous for its pork pies. Kearns has denied being an organiser of the rebellion.^[254] By the end of 19 January, some Conservative MPs told the BBC that Wakeford's defection had caused a change in mood, namely that there was a "stepping back" from immediate attempts to obtain a no-confidence vote in Johnson's leadership and a wish to wait until after Sue Gray's report was published.^{[255][256][257]}

On 19 January, Bury South MP Christian Wakeford said he had submitted a letter of no confidence in Johnson's leadership.^[258] Later that day, shortly before Prime Minister's Questions, Wakeford defected from the Conservative Party to the Labour Party,^[259] although his first contact with Labour predated the controversy and he was initially motivated by other issues.^[255] It was later reported that up to seven MPs had withdrawn their letters of no confidence.^[260]

Conservative MP David Davis called on 19 January for Johnson to resign, making reference to the 1940 Norway Debate that led to Neville Chamberlain's resignation.

At the end of Prime Minister's Questions on 19 January, Conservative former minister David Davis called for Johnson to resign, quoting Leo Amery calling on Neville Chamberlain to resign during the Norway Debate in 1940,^[261] and saying: "You have sat there too long for all the good you have done. In the name of God, go." BBC Newsnight's political editor Nick Watt said it was an "extraordinarily significant moment" and that Davis would have intended it to be "particularly devastating" to Johnson.^[262][263]

On 26 January, Nicky Wylie, the leader of the Conservative group on Cheshire East Council, quit the party, citing the controversy as her reason.^[264]

After the release of Sue Gray's update on her investigation on 31 January 2022, Conservative MP Andrew Mitchell said he no longer supported Johnson.^[265] Former prime minister Theresa May also questioned Johnson's response to Gray's report, saying that people "had a right to expect their prime minister to have read the rules, to understand the meaning of the rules" and to "set an example". She said No. 10, "was not observing the regulations they had imposed on members of the public" and accused Johnson of "either not understanding the rules or believing they did not apply to his team."^{[266][267][268]} In protest over Johnson's handling of the controversy, Guildford MP Angela Richardson resigned from her position as Michael Gove's parliamentary secretary.^[269]

On 1–2 February, the Conservative MP for Waveney, Peter Aldous submitted a letter of no confidence and called for Johnson to resign.^[270] Three others: Bournemouth East MP and Chair of the Defence Select Committee Tobias Ellwood; Anthony Mangnall, MP for Totnes; and Gary Streeter, MP for South West Devon submitted letters of no confidence in him.^[271] On 3 February 2022, ITV News reported that in total 12 Conservative MPs, 21 MSPs (including Douglas Ross, who is both an MP and MSP) and two peers had called for Johnson's resignation,^[272] and BBC News reported that 17 MPs had submitted letters of no confidence.^[273] Roger Gale and Charles Walker both want Johnson to resign.^[274][275]

On 4 February, Newcastle MP Aaron Bell also said he had submitted a letter of no confidence.^[119][276] The same day, former Minister of State for School Standards Nick Gibb also submitted a letter of no confidence, calling for Johnson's resignation.^[277] Gibbs said, "I am sorry to say that it is hard to see how it can be the case that the prime minister told the truth."^[278] Gibbs also said, "But telling the truth matters, and nowhere more so than in the House of Commons where, like a court of law, truth must be told regardless of the personal consequences."^[279] Alec Shelbrooke, the MP for Elmet and Rothwell described Johnson's position as, "indefensible".^[280] On 6 February, Tory MPs Iain Duncan Smith and Kwasi Kwarteng both called for Johnson to be given more time.^[281]

On 10 February former Conservative prime minister, John Major said Boris Johnson, "broke lockdown laws" and added in his opinion the government felt it, "need not obey the rules. (...) Brazen excuses were dreamed up. Day after day the public was asked to believe the unbelievable. Ministers were sent out to defend the indefensible - making themselves look gullible or foolish."^[282]

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ross withdrew his letter of no confidence, saying he felt a leadership contest would be inappropriate during the conflict,^[283] as did Andrew Bridgen.^[284]

Alleged intimidation of MPs opposed to Johnson[]

On 20 January, Conservative MP William Wragg, chair of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Select Committee, accused 10 Downing Street staff of threatening him and other colleagues over their opposition to Johnson's leadership. He said "the intimidation of a member of parliament is a serious matter" and "The reports of which I'm aware would seem to constitute blackmail."^[285] Wragg said damaging publicity had been threatened, as had removal of government investment in MPs' constituencies. Wragg advised MP's affected to contact the police or the Commons Speaker.^[286]

Johnson said he had "seen no evidence [and] heard no evidence" of what Wragg said and that he would look into them. The Secretary of State for Culture Nadine Dorries, called Wragg's accusations "attention-seeking behaviour" and "nonsense". Energy minister, and former government whip, Greg Hands, said of what Wragg said that they "not been borne out by anybody else", and that "This is not something that happens".^[286]

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said, "It is simply remarkable that a prime minister could countenance scrapping local projects and funding if MPs refuse to back him. All Boris Johnson cares about is saving his own skin. He's acting more like a mafia boss than a prime minister."^[286] Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner called for an investigation.^[287]

Chair of the Commons Select Committee on Standards, Chris Bryant, said roughly a dozen Conservative MPs had made similar allegations of whips threatening to withdraw funding for their constituencies in the past few days; threats included withholding funds for campaigning and infrastructure such as by-passes and schools.^[288] Bryant said, "I have even heard MPs alleging that the prime minister himself has been doing this. What I have said to all of those people is that that is misconduct in public office. The people who should be dealing with such allegations are the police. It is illegal. We are meant to operate as MPs without fear or favour. The allocation of taxpayer funding to constituencies should be according to need, not according to the need to keep the prime minister in his job."^[177]

Opinion polls[]

Opinion polling in early December 2021 found that the majority of the public believed that a party had taken place at Downing Street in December 2020 and that this was not permitted under the restrictions in place at the time.^{[290][291][292]} The controversy was seen as a factor^[230] in the Conservative Party and Boris Johnson's declining rates of public support in December 2021.^{[293][294][295]} Various polls throughout late 2021 and early 2022 suggested that a majority of voters wanted Johnson to resign as Prime Minister over the controversy.^{[294][296][297]} After Johnson apologised for the 20 May 2020 gathering, one poll indicated that 68% of the public considered his apology not to have been sincere.^[298]

By 14 January 2022, YouGov polling found that 72% of the British public held an unfavourable view of Johnson, a record low for his tenure and surpassing the lowest popularity of Theresa May during her premiership.^[299] Following the reporting of further gatherings in January 2022, the Conservatives fell further in the polls, with Labour having a lead of around 10 points.^[82] Polling by Ipsos MORI in January 2022 found that "lack of faith in politicians and politics" was cited as a major problem facing the country by 25% of the public, the highest recorded since 2016 and "likely related" to the revelations of lockdown parties.^[300]

See also[]

• Dominic Cummings scandal
• Oireachtas Golf Society scandal, a similar political scandal in Ireland
• Witman Hung partygate, a similar political scandal in Hong Kong
• Political impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
• List of political scandals in the United Kingdom

Notes[]

References[]

External links[]

• Terms of reference of Investigations by Cabinet Secretary, published December 2021
• Investigation update, published January 2022