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Aletha Adu & Sophie Brownson

Boris Johnson celebrated birthday with 'lockdown party' when indoor social gatherings were banned

The Prime Minister partied with up to 30 people to celebrate his birthday during the first lockdown when indoor gatherings were banned, it has been revealed.

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Boris Johnson, who is born on June 19, enjoyed a birthday party at a time when social mixing indoors was banned, ITV news and the Mirror reports.

People could only meet their loved ones outside in groups of up to six people and most schools remained closed to their pupils.

Those who lived alone in England and Northern Ireland were able to form a “support bubble” with another household.

Despite this, it is understood that Mr Johnson socialised with up to 30 people, including interior designer Lulu Lytle, who decorated his Number 11 flat in 2020.

The Prime Minister's wife, Carrie Johnson, and Ms Lytle allegedly presented him with a cake, as Carrie led staff to sing a chorus of Happy Birthday.

The party was held in the Cabinet Room after Mr Johnson returned from a visit to a school in Hertfordshire.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson with his wife Carrie. (PA)

People were not allowed to mix indoors at the time.

Days earlier, Mr Johnson asked the public "to continue to show restraint and respect the rules which are designed to keep us all safe".

Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer has said it's "yet more evidence" that the Prime Minister "thinks the rules do not apply to him".

A spokesman for Lulu Lytle said: "Lulu was present in Downing Street on 19 June working on the refurbishment.

"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."

In response to the allegations Number 10 said: "A group of staff working in No 10 that day gathered briefly in the Cabinet Room after a meeting to wish the Prime Minister a happy birthday. He was there for less than ten minutes.”

But the spokesperson added claims are "totally untrue." and in line with the rules at the time the Prime Minister hosted a "small number of family members outside that evening.”

The latest addition to partygate comes hours before Sue Gray was expected to release the findings of her investigation into Downing Street parties at the earliest.

Whitehall enforcer Ms Gray had just included Carrie Johnson into her inquiry amid claims of parties in the Downing Street flat she shares with the Prime Minister.

Over the weekend, the Sunday Times revealed Mrs Johnson had invited two of her close friends a number of times to Number 11 Downing Street.

They were not working for Number 10 at the time despite Mrs Johnson's claims they were "work-related".

It comes as the PM battles to save his premiership.

More details have emerged of other Downing Street parties since the Mirror's initial reports last November.

Officials allegedly took part in a seven-hour drinking session at two separate dos to say farewell to Mr Johnson's top spin doctor and a Downing Street photographer in April 2020.

The Telegraph claims to have obtained a picture of staff in the Downing Street basement, where people were drinking wine and spirits out of plastic cups.

Text messages also indicate that attendees were still partying at 1am, having started at around 6pm.

The existence of photos and texts could provide further fuel for Sue Gray's partygate inquiry, which is expected to be published next week.

One of the events was for James Slack, the PM's departing director of communications, which was held in the press area and then the garden.

He has apologised for the bash. He said in a statement: “This event should not have happened at the time that it did. I am deeply sorry, and take full responsibility.”

Mr Johnson appeared visibly distressed when he told reporters that he had apologised to the Queen over the parties.

"I deeply and bitterly regret that that happened," he told reporters last week.

"I can only renew my apologies both to Her Majesty and to the country for misjudgments that were made, and for which I take full responsibility.''

Government guidance at the time warned: “You must not socialise indoors except with your household or support bubble.

"You can meet outdoors, including in gardens, in groups of six people or two households."

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