Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Politics
Aletha Adu

All the people who lost their jobs over Downing Street lockdown-busting parties

The two most powerful people and influential people in British politics have been fined by the Metropolitan Police for breaking the law.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak have both repeatedly denied breaking any rules over Downing Street lockdown parties.

No10 were forced to admit Scotland Yard had dished out fixed-penalty notices to Mr Johnson and Mr Sunak, adding "we have no further details, but we will update you again when we do".

Carrie Johnson also received one of more than 50 fines handed out by the Met Police over Partygate.

The fines come despite the PM's prmise to shake-up No10 following the publication of Sue Gray's highly-anticipated report.

(PA)

Labour leader Keir Starmer has called for Mr Johnson and Mr Sunak to resign for "repeatedly lying" to the British public.

But how many people have lost their jobs since the Mirror first reported last year officials held "many social gatherings" while the public faced tough lockdown restrictions?

The Prime Minister and his wife Carrie have been fined over lockdown breaking parties in Downing Street (Michael Mayhew/Allstar)

Allegra Stratton

Allegra Stratton made a tearful statement outside her London home in December, quitting her £125k a year role as the PM's advisor.

She struggled to read her statement, hours after footage showed her laughing about a Downing Street party, and practicing to make excuses for the party.

The former Press Seretary - who later worked as COP26 spokeswoman - said she had "become a distraction in that fight" against the Covid pandemic.

Ms Stratton sidestepped saying whether she was at the Downing Street party she was filmed joking about.

The recording, leaked to ITV news, was of a rehearsal on December 22 for planned daily TV media briefings, which Ms Stratton was supposed to be the face of until the PM scrapped them.

Ed Oldfiled, adviser to the PM said: "I've just seen reports on Twitter that there was a Downing Street Christmas party on Friday night, do you recognise those reports?"

"I went home", replies Ms Stratton, who appears to crease up laughing before telling colleagues "hold on".

Tearful Allegra Stratton quits as Downing Street Press Secretary outside her London home in December (Jonathan Buckmaster)

Dan Rosenfield

Dan Rosenfield kicked off a mass exodus of top staff from No10 back in February.

The former chief of staff quit following reports he was among senior Downing Street officials who attended a Christmas quiz held in December 2020.

Dan Rosenfield, former No10 chief of staff (Tayfun Salci/ZUMA Wire/REX/Shutterstock)

Martin Reynolds

Martin Reynolds, the PM's principal private secretary left Downing Street alongside Mr Rosenfield.

Mr Reynolds had largely avoided media attention until it emerged he invited aides to a BYOB bash during the first lockdown on May 20, 2020.

He was also pictured in the Downing Street garden five days earlier on 15 May 2020 drinking with the PM and his wife Carrie Johnson.

Boris Johnson walking with Principal Private Secretary Martin Reynolds (Getty Images)

Jack Doyle

Jack Doyle, the PM's top communications advisor, was one of four top aides who quit in January in what appeared to be a mass exodus, not of the PM's doing.

In February, Mr Doyle announced he was resigning, telling staff the Downing Street partygate saga had taken a "terrible toll" on his family life.

He did insist, however, it was always his intention to leave Downing Street after two years.

Mr Doyle is believed to have attended at least two of the parties in Downing Street and Whitehall.

Deputy press secretary Jack Doyle in Downing Street (PA)

Kate Josephs

Kate Josephs, who helped to write Covid rules was fined as part of the Partygate probe.

Ms Josephs was a director-general of the Cabinet Office's Covid-19 Taskforce.

But she resigned earlier this year as details of the farewell bash emerged.

She said in a statement back in January: "I am truly sorry that I did this and for the anger that people will feel as a result.

"Sheffield has suffered greatly during this pandemic, and I apologise unreservedly."


Kate Josephs resigned before details of her leaving party emerged. But she apologised in January (@katejosephs/Twitter)

Helen McNamara

Helen McNamara, the government's former head of ethics apologised after receiving a fine from the police over Partygate.

She attended a leaving do for a fellow civil servant on June 18 2020, one of the 12 events being investigated by the Met.

Ms McNamara "accepted and paid the fixed penalty notice", adding: "I am sorry for the error of judgement I have shown."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.