Boris Johnson has sacked the man leading the probe into the Number 10 Christmas party coronavirus scandal, after it emerged his department had also held a rule-breaking gathering last year.
The Daily Mirror reports how Cabinet Secretary Simon Case was tasked with “establishing the facts” surrounding gatherings held at Number 10 and across Whitehall in December last year, while London was under strict Covid-19 restrictions.
But it has now emerged he has been dismissed from the post after the department that Case was in charge of also held a similar party the day before.
Case and his team sent out digital invitations to a “Christmas Party” in a room in the Cabinet Office on December 17 last year - the day before the alleged Number 10 party he was charged with investigating.
A Cabinet Office source confirmed the Cabinet Secretary's private office held a ‘virtual quiz’ on December 17, starting at 5.30pm and lasting an hour.
They said about six members of staff, who had been working in the office that day, took part in person - with the rest of the team joining from home.
Although Case was not one of those taking part a source said he was aware of what was going on as the guests enjoyed booze and snacks.
The latest revelation could plunge the embattled Tory government into further strife as Johnson hangs onto his job.
Number 10 last night confirmed Mr Case had “recused himself” from the remainder of the probe - to be replaced by Sue Gray, an official at Michael Gove’s Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
A Number 10 spokesperson said: “She will ascertain the facts and present her findings to the Prime Minister.”
A Cabinet Office spokesperson said: “Staff in the Cabinet Secretary’s private office took part in a virtual quiz on 17 December 2020.
“A small number of them, who had been working in the office throughout the pandemic and on duty that day, took part from their desks, while the rest of the team were virtual.
“The Cabinet Secretary played no part in the event, but walked through the team’s office on the way to his own office. No outside guests or other staff were invited or present.
“This lasted for an hour and drinks and snacks were bought by those attending. He also spoke briefly to staff in the office before leaving.”
When he was appointed earlier this month, a Number 10 spokesperson was asked for reassurances that Mr Case would be a credible investigator.
They replied: "It’s clear that he is rightly leading what will be an independent process looking into the allegations made on that date in No10."
Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner said: "Labour made it clear when the investigation was launched that the person in charge should be uncompromised and able to make a fair and independent judgement.
"These fresh revelations put that into question."
Lobby Akinnola, spokesperson for Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice said "The stories that the Government were partying whilst families across the country were unable to be with their loved ones in their dying moments, has caused an unspeakable amount of pain for bereaved families like mine.
“The least the Government can do for us now is tell the truth. Sadly, the news that the Cabinet Secretary’s office were themselves breaking the rules, makes many of us believe they won’t even have the decency to manage that. At this point it feels like it would be easier to just name the senior Government figures that didn’t attend parties.
“It’s clear that the only way we’re going to get the honesty we deserve is if this investigation is handled truly independently. Anything less is just further disrespect to those who have already lost so much to this pandemic."
Just hours before details of the parties emerged, a senior Tory and ally of Mr Johnson said they were confident Mr Case’s report would “vindicate” the Prime Minister.
Conservative Chairman Oliver Dowden said: “I'm confident that that inquiry will vindicate the Prime Minister's assertion that everything that happened was within the rules.”
And he said “I don't think there's a need” for the Cabinet Secretary to widen his inquiry to an alleged No10 party during the first lockdown.
