Boris Johnson joined a staff Christmas party at No 10 last year during the middle of lockdown, according to a new source.
Around 20 civil servants and Tory aides are alleged to have gathered on May 15 last year for drinks inside No 10 Downing Street and in the garden.
The party is thought to have included pizza and wine and saw some guests stay late into the evening, despite the party taking place during the first lockdown, according to The Mirror.
A source has now claimed that Prime Minister Boris Johnson did attend the party and allegedly told one attending that they deserve a drink for "beating back" the virus.
That day 314 people died from Covid-19.
A report in the Guardian and the Independent claimed that the party took place after a press conference with then Health Secretary Matt Hancock. However, at the time the public was banned from mixing indoors with more than one person from a different household.
Sources claimed that Mr Johnson and Mr Hancock were present for a short time, but did not drink and did not stay late.
The PM's spokesman said: “In the summer months Downing Street staff regularly use the garden for some meetings.
"On 15 May 2020 the prime minister held a series of meetings throughout the afternoon, including briefly with the then health 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.”
Earlier this week it was revealed that Tory aides also held a party during lockdown last year at the Conservative Party's campaign headquarters in Westminster. The party was organised by senior Conservative politician Shaun Bailey's mayoral campaign team.
