A top civil servant is probing a string of alleged lockdown-busting parties across Westminster as pressure mounts on Boris Johnson.
Whitehall enforcer Sue Gray is investigating claims of bashes said to have been held in breach of lockdown rules in Downing Street and Whitehall.
They include a No10 leaving do on November 27 at which the PM spoke; a No10 quiz on December 15, a No10 Christmas party on December 18 and a Department for Education bash on December 10.
At the same time, ministers were imploring Brits to keep following strict bans on indoor socialising to control the spread of the virus.
The government and Downing Street have repeatedly insisted all rules were followed.
But a number of fresh allegations have emerged, including claims Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie attended a drinks party in the Downing Street garden in May 20 2020.
Here we round up what the allegations are - and what government figures were saying at the time.
May 15: Downing Street and garden
Boris Johnson allegedly joined around 20 civil servants and Tory aides on May 15 last year who had pizza and wine inside Downing Street and in the garden, with some staying late into the evening.
Tory Party chair Oliver Dowden claimed the May 15 gathering was a “meeting that took place in the garden”.
He told Sky News: “I have seen the account given by Downing Street that there was a meeting that took place, and it took place outside. I think that that was perfectly appropriate and reasonable.
“There had been a press conference previously, and it was perfectly reasonable to have the meeting afterwards outside."
He added: "I don't think there's a need for the Cabinet Secretary to look into this one because the circumstances appear to be pretty clear."
May 20: Downing Street garden
Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie were said to have attended a "BYOB" drinks party in the Downing Street garden on May 20 - described by a source as "proper booze up".
Outdoor gatherings were banned in England at the time under Covid rules.
The claim first emerged from ex-No10 adviser Dominic Cummings, who has become an arch critic of the PM since leaving Government in November 2020.
A witness told the Sunday Times: “There were 40 people in the garden, including Boris and Carrie. There were long tables laden with drink, crisps, sausage rolls and other picnic food. It was a proper booze-up.”
Then ITV obtained a bombshell email from the PM's aide Martin Reynolds, which was sent to more than 100 Downing Street staff.
The leaked email, which came to light on Monday, said: "Hi all, after what has been an incredibly busy period we thought it would be nice to make the most of the lovely weather and have some socially distanced drinks in the No 10 garden this evening.
"Please join us from 6pm and bring your own booze!"
Downing Street refused to comment on the claims while Ms Gray's inquiry is ongoing.
Asked if he and his wife attended the party, Mr Johnson said on Monday: "All that, as you know, is the subject of a proper investigation by Sue Gray."
November 13: Downing Street flat
Sources told the Mirror senior No 10 aides "were all drinking their socks off" at an alleged gathering in Boris and Carrie Johnson’s flat above 11 Downing Street.
Staff reported hearing "loud music pumping out of the flat" late into the night after Dominic Cummings, the PM's former top aide, quit that night in a blaze of publicity.
The Mail on Sunday even described it at the time as a “victory party” celebrating the departure of Mr Cummings - a fierce critic of Carrie Johnson.
Mr Cummings has claimed there was a party in the flat on November 13 and “other flat parties” that should be investigated.
A spokeswoman for Mrs Johnson dismissed the claims as "total nonsense”, adding: "Mrs Johnson has followed coronavirus rules at all times and it is categorically untrue to suggest otherwise.”
Boris Johnson also denied there was any party in Downing Street on November 13. He told the House of Commons: “I am sure that whatever happened, the guidance was followed and the rules were followed at all times.”
The Telegraph was given the names of six current and former senior government officials alleged to be present. Several fiercely denied the claims.
At the time England was in a national lockdown and that day the UK recorded 436 Covid deaths - the second-highest daily total since May.
November 13: Drinks in Downing Street
Sources told the Mirror a relatively small number of people gathered for drinks in No10’s ‘round table room’ to mark two top aides’ departure.
As well as Dominic Cummings walking out, the PM’s Communications Director Lee Cain left his job - and left on less hostile terms. He posed grinning with Mr Johnson and “Get Brexit Done” boxing gloves that night.
Sources suggested the PM gave a “shambolic” speech, everyone was gone by about 9pm and it was a relatively low-key affair. But indoor socialising was still banned under lockdown rules.
A day earlier, Cabinet minister Alok Sharma told Brits at a No10 press conference: ”We must ensure that we continue to follow the guidance to protect our loved ones, our families, our friends, our communities.
“Because the virus is still here. It is still a danger.”
November 25: Treasury drinks
Officials held impromptu drinks to celebrate Rishi Sunak's Spending Review during the November lockdown, the Treasury has admitted.
Around two dozen civil servants took part in the unplanned event, with wine and beer brought in, according to The Times.
Non-essential shops, bars and restaurants were closed at the time due to lockdown rules.
A Treasury spokesman said: "A number of HMT staff came into the office to work on the Spending Review 2020.
"We have been made aware that a small number of staff had impromptu drinks around their desks after the event.
"The Treasury did not organise an in-person departmental party last Christmas."
Mr Sunak was not present and was understood to have been unaware.
November 27: Leaving do drinks in Downing Street
Sources told the Mirror 40 to 50 people crammed into a room in No10 for a leaving do for top aide Cleo Watson.
It is alleged there were drinks and a party which went on until late into the night.
Sources claimed Mr Johnson gave a speech, and his former senior aide Lord Lister was there.
No10 refused to comment on the claims, saying they will be investigated by the Cabinet Secretary.
Ms Watson’s ally Dominic Cummings claimed: “There was no party on Fri 27/11. Red herring. A staff member left their job. Walked to press office to say bye, PM bumbled in & started babbling, everyone embarrassed, dispersed.”
But England was still under national lockdown at the time. And hours earlier Mr Johnson told Brits at a No10 press conference: “If we ease off now, we risk losing control of this virus all over again, casting aside our hard won gains, and forcing us back into a New Year national lockdown with all the damage that would mean.”
December 10: Party at the Department for Education
The Mirror revealed up to two dozen of then-Education Secretary Gavin Williamson's top team gathered for "drinks and canapes" in his department's cafe.
Susan Acland-Hood, the department's top civil servant, admitted to MPs that she had been present at the social gathering.
The flustered mandarin confirmed that officials found to have broken the rules will face disciplinary action - just as Boris Johnson has threatened for No 10 staff.
One source told the Mirror: "There were lots of people gathered in the cafe area, mingling and drinking wine. It was just so reckless".
Another source added: "He hosted a drinks do when people were considering whether they could spend Christmas with their families."
On the same day, Cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg admitted businesses had made “enormous sacrifices” adding: “The decision to place restrictions on them has not been taken lightly, but for the clear need to suppress the coronavirus.”
December 14: ‘Raucous’ party at Tory HQ
An extraordinary image emerged of a “raucous” Christmas party thrown by Tory aides during coronavirus restrictions last Christmas.
It shows 24 people crowded together - in blatant breach of lockdown rules - in a medium-sized room in the party’s Westminster HQ.
Some of the group are shown wearing paper hats while one is sporting a House of Commons Christmas jumper.
The event, organised by top Tory Shaun Bailey ’s mayoral campaign, took place on December 14 last year when London was in Tier 2.
After he was approached by the Mirror, Mr Bailey dramatically quit as chair of the London Assembly’s police and crime committee.
Police later said they would speak to two people who were at the bash.
December 15: No10 Christmas Quiz
Boris Johnson stands accused of personally breaching Covid rules by hosting a festive quiz in Downing Street.
The Prime Minister was pictured on screen, sitting beneath a portrait of Margaret Thatcher, as he read out questions.
A source told the Mirror that many staff huddled by computers to take part while drinking booze from a local Tesco Metro.
The insider said in one office there were four teams, each made up of six people.
The PM was pictured flanked by two colleagues, one wearing a Santa hat, while the other was draped in tinsel. They were not drinking.
London was then under Tier 2 regulations banning social mixing between households.
Official guidance also stated: “You must not have a work Christmas lunch or party, where that is a primarily social activity and is not otherwise permitted by the rules in your tier.”
No person could participate in a gathering indoors of two or more people from other households apart from in limited circumstances - including that the gathering was “reasonably necessary for work” - according to the rules at the time.
Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi denied there had been a breach of the rules.
He told Sky: "What do we see in that picture? We see a Prime Minister on a virtual quiz night for 10 to 15 minutes to thank his staff, who by the way, had no choice but to come in every single day.
"Sitting in his office are the two people who are closest working with him, no alcohol on the table, not drinking, on a Zoom call or a Teams call, a virtual call respecting the lockdown rules.
"Many people would have had similar Zoom quiz nights around the country."
But Labour leader Keir Starmer, a former director of public prosecutions, said it was "very hard" to see how the quiz was "compliant with the rules".
December 16: Department for Transport
Tory minister Grant Shapps' staff threw a Christmas party in a Whitehall office the day London was plunged into Tier 3 restrictions.
The Transport Secretary denies all knowledge of the festive do, on Wednesday December 16, where senior civil servants were "boozing and dancing" after work from 5pm.
The same day, the Government imposed Tier 3 curbs on the capital, which saw pubs closed and banned people from different households mixing.
Senior staff from the Cabinet Minister's private office planned the rule-breaking bash and almost a dozen joined for the knees-up, sources claimed.
A spokesman for Mr Shapps, however, said the minister had "absolutely no idea" about the gathering.
December 18: No10 Christmas party
The Mirror broke the story of the No10 Christmas party, which No10 dodged questions on for a week before video emerged of staff joking about it.
Officials knocked back glasses of wine and held a Secret Santa while the rest of the country was forced to stay at home.
Staff later joked there had been “wine and cheese” and the Friday night bash was “not socially distanced”.
According to later reports, people made speeches and stayed until 2am, with Boris Johnson not present but working a few rooms away in his office.
“It was a Covid nightmare,” one source told the Mirror.
A source told The Times the party had been organised days in advance on WhatsApp and with a follow-up email.
The next day, Boris Johnson tore up planned Christmas bubbles and told the nation: “It is with a heavy heart that I must tell you we cannot continue with Christmas as planned.”
The Prime Minister has claimed he was assured all rules were followed, but later launched an investigation by the Cabinet Secretary. Tearful ex-aide Allegra Stratton resigned after she was caught joking about the bash with fellow media advisor Ed Oldfield.
December (date unknown): Department for Work and Pensions
Karaoke-loving Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey’s staff regularly drank alcohol late into the night in her private Whitehall office throughout the pandemic.
Political staff and officials would frequently drink after work until the early hours of the morning, and order takeaway food to Ms Coffey’s DWP office - despite bans on hospitality and office parties, the Sunday Mirror learned.
A DWP insider said: “There is a constant flow of booze in the office.”
At one such occasion in the run up to Christmas, Ms Coffey gave presents to her team.
A DWP spokesperson said: "Throughout the pandemic, DWP officials have followed government guidance while continuing to deliver vital services for millions of people.
“Staff worked from home where possible but a core team working directly to the Secretary of State regularly worked from the office, in accordance with the COVID-19 rules as they evolved.
“The team regularly worked late into the evening and on a number of occasions they ate takeaway food and drank some alcohol. No karaoke took place.
"On one occasion close to Christmas, the Secretary of State gave gifts to her core team, as she does every year."
December (date unknown): Cabinet Office quiz
A row broke out over claims by the BBC that a Christmas quiz was held for No10 staff in the Cabinet Office.
Multiple sources told the broadcaster invites were sent out by e-mail, telling people to form teams of six.
Downing Street insisted it was a virtual gathering but sources told the BBC there were groups in the Cabinet Office’s 70 Whitehall HQ, sat in their teams.
Indoor socialising between different households was banned in London throughout November and December under lockdown, Tier 2 and Tier 3 rules.
Gatherings were allowed if they were “reasonably necessary for work”, but the government explicitly told a business owner that Christmas work socials did not count.
The man was told on December 17 by the GOV.UK Twitter account: "Although there are exemptions for work purposes, you must not have a work Christmas lunch or party, where that is a primarily social activity and is not otherwise permitted by the rules in your tier.”
December (date unknown): Cabinet Office
The independence of Simon Case's probe was called into question after it was claimed his own office held lockdown-busting parties last year.
Number 10 has insisted the Cabinet Secretary’s inquiry would be "credible" and "independent."
But reports on the Guido Fawkes blog claimed two parties - one planned, the second an impromptu gathering after work - took place in Mr Case's office at 70 Whitehall last December.
It's claimed a party organised by staff in his Private Office was attended by around 15 people and featured drinking and music.
While Mr Case was not "actively participating", it's claimed he was spotted "sticking his head into the room to call staff out at various points during the party to talk with them."
