Boris Johnson's top spin doctor made a thank you speech and handed out spoof awards to Downing Street staff at a Christmas party at No10, new reports of the event claim.
Sources have told ITV News that Jack Doyle, the Prime Minister's top communications adviser, held a joke awards ceremony for staff at the festive bash, which took place at the height of the second wave of Covid and is now the subject of a Cabinet Office probe.
It is thought that more than 50 people were at the party on December 18. Mr Doyle was deputy director of communications at the time.
The event was said to have been planned three weeks in advance with invitations sent to officials and political advisers on WhatsApp, according to The Times.
The Prime Minister had claimed he had "assurances" the event had followed Covid guidance but after leaked footage of senior staff laughing and joking about "cheese and wine" and "definitely" no social distancing at the event, he ordered a Cabinet Office investigation.
Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner said the latest revelations show Boris Johnson is "unfit to lead".
She said: “As more details emerge about the Downing Street Christmas party, the government’s internal investigation has been exposed as the sham it is. The investigation has only just published its terms of reference and we are already seeing more details from the media than the Cabinet Office about the Parties.
“We all know there was a party that broke the rules. The Conservatives think it’s one rule for them, and another for everyone else."
Allegra Stratton, the PM's former spokeswoman, resigned after the leaked video.
In the clip, she was seen creased up laughing about the get-together as she and other advisers, including Ed Oldfield, held a mock press conference and gamed how to respond if journalists asked questions about the event.
Ms Stratton reminded colleagues "it is recorded" after they laughed about the "business meeting".
In a tearful speech outside her north London home on Wednesday she chose to leave her post as Cop26 spokeswoman, saying she had become a "distraction" for the Government.
On Thursday, it was confirmed that two other rule-breaking parties ended by people in government will be the subject of the official investigation by Simon Case, the Cabinet Secretary.
The Met Police has declined to investigate the party, saying it does not probe retrospective breaches of Covid rules.
The Mirror has approached Mr Doyle for comment.
On Friday, Downing Street has said Boris Johnson has full confidence in Mr Doyle to continue his role as communications director.
Asked if Mr Doyle had offered his resignation, the PM's spokesman said: "Not that I'm aware of."
Mr Johnson also has full confidence in aide Ed Oldfield who appeared in the leaked footage that prompted Allegra Stratton to resign.
