Boris Johnson did not break lockdown restrictions by taking part in a virtual quiz last Christmas as there "were no drinks", a government minister has said.
The Prime Minister has been accused of breaking coronavirus laws by taking part in a quiz in Downing Street after he was allegedly pictured on a screen as he read out questions for the quiz, The Mirror reports.
A source told the paper that many staff 'huddled by computers' as they took part, and drank alcohol.
Halfway through the quiz, the PM surprised staff by turning up on screen as quizmaster for one round which lasted between 10 and 15 minutes.
In the picture the Prime Minister can be seen with two members of his team, although they were not drinking.
But speaking this morning, education secretary Nadhim Zahawi told the BBC’s The Andrew Marr Show Tier 2 restrictions were “not broken” in the image.
“These are people who work together.
“There is no drink here. I don’t think there is a rule against recognising Christmas with tinsel or a hat.
“Ten to 15 minutes to thank his team who were working all hours on a virtual screen in a pub quiz – I think people can make their own mind up on that.”
In the picture the Prime Minister can be seen with two members of his team, although they were not drinking.
Official guidance at the time 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."
And Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, said he thought that Boris Johnson had "breached the rules".
Asked on the BBC’s The Andrew Marr Show whether the Prime Minister had broken the law, given London had been in Tier 2 restrictions at the time, the former director of public prosecutions said: “Well, it looks as though he was.
“He must have known that other groups were in other rooms in his own building.
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“This is very important because he has damaged his authority, he is now so weak, his party is so divided – he can’t deliver the leadership this country needs.
“We’ve got a very important vote coming up next week and he can’t even discharge the basic functions of Government. He is the worst possible leader at the worst possible time.”
However, Mr Zahawi added: “I think in many ways the hype of the past two weeks around parties will quite rightly be investigated by the Cabinet Secretary.
“My email box is full of people thinking that he was sort of at parties with guests and all sorts of things happening.
“Actually, they can now make their mind up when they see this picture of the Prime Minister on a virtual screen, on a Zoom call thanking his team, who are in the building because they have to respond to a national emergency.”
Last week Downing Street claimed no parties had taken place at Number 10.
Mr Johnson said last week: “I can tell you guidelines were followed at all times. I’ve satisfied myself that the guidelines were followed at all times.”
And asked whether he now accepted that there had been a party in No 10 on December 18 following leaked footage of aides joking about a festive gathering only days later, the Education Secretary replied: “I think that is unfair.
“Allegra Stratton who resigned over this, she resigned because she felt the frivolity and the laughter… the Cabinet Secretary is looking at all allegations.
“I think it is only fair and right, because these are the values that we adhere to in this country, that we should wait for that investigation.”
