The alleged parties hosted in Downing Street during lockdown have sparked a mix of horror, fury and cynical humour since the first reports emerged late last year. Every few days, a new piece of evidence has emerged, each more damning than the last and providing more fodder for outrage, dismay and humour on social media.
The latest development, on the leak of an email inviting more than 100 Downing Street staff to a “bring your own booze” party during lockdown in May 2020, spawned tens of thousands of comments.
On the trending #DowningStreetParties hashtag, one doctor whose tweet has gone viral recalled how she had to wear uncomfortable, sweaty PPE as she watched people die in May 2020, and had been left with post-traumatic stress disorder.
May 2020. 9 weeks away from home. Trying to save lives. And they partied??I baked in these suits. I wept. I was isolated. We rationed PPE. We watched people die. I developed PTSD. We couldn’t even get a second phone line for the ward. AND THEY PARTIED???? #DowningStreetParties pic.twitter.com/leNfJAE8nb
— Dr Samantha Haley-Horsfall 💙 (@sammypops) January 10, 2022
Author Michael Rosen combined pathos and humour, ironically quipping “damn, I missed it” of the party – he was in a coma at the time due to coronavirus.
May 20 2020 Number 10 party. Damn, I missed it. I was in a coma. Just my luck.
— Michael Rosen 💙💙🎓🎓 (@MichaelRosenYes) January 10, 2022
Many commenters reflected on being unable to see relatives, including those who would later die of Covid, in May 2020. Some recalled saying goodbye to dying relatives over Zoom or FaceTime.
On 20 May 2020 my baby brother was in ICU. He died on 23rd May. We couldn’t sit with him until they switched off his life support. My dad and I watched him take his last breaths over FaceTime. The words I want to use right now would get me kicked off Twitter #DowningStreetParties
— Jenni Lang (@lang_towers) January 10, 2022
One commenter shared an image of her dad followed by a picture of a coffin, and said she had been unable to see her father in the 37 days between the photos “because I followed the rules set out by our prime minister”.
These are the last 2 moments I spent with my dad. I didn’t see him at all in the 37 days between the 2 photos because I followed the rules set out by our Prime Minister. Rules he systematically & repeatedly broke for no good reason. #COVID19 #DowningStreetParties #JohnsonOut pic.twitter.com/poVjjCE6Ef
— Kathryn de Prudhoe 💙😷💉🇪🇺 (@de_prudhoe) January 11, 2022
Some shared pictures of empty public spaces, such as parks where police had broken up gatherings of more than two people from different households, or empty play parks where children were banned. Several commenters referenced Jessica Allen and Eliza Moore, who were fined by police for taking two warm drinks on a socially distanced walk in Derbyshire during the third lockdown last January on the grounds it was an “illegal picnic”.
Photo of my local park taken in June 2020. The kids weren’t even allowed to play outside in a play park while these shits had a party #DowningStreetParties pic.twitter.com/biPiGtUXkh
— laura (@laura65282272) January 10, 2022
Some noted how challenging the early lockdowns had been for those living in small spaces without a balcony or garden, given rules in the first lockdown had prevented people from sitting down outside in public places.
I lived in a small 3rd floor flat with no balcony or garden and wasn’t even allowed to sit on a park bench out side. It was so hot inside it was almost unbearable , we had to keep the curtains closed all day. Meanwhile, they were enjoying the weather at #DowningStreetParties
— Al green 💙💙💙 (@allgreeny) January 11, 2022
Other commentators opted to seek comfort from the unhappy lockdown memories in gallows humour, likening festival scenes to the Downing Street party.
The morning after the Downing Street party. pic.twitter.com/L8bFqlUEKv
— SirBrianCannonHunter (@TheCannonHunter) January 10, 2022
One commenter speculated that perhaps the prime minister’s feeble clap for the NHS had been due to a hangover from the party, which he has not denied attending.
Only clapped the NHS for 11 seconds but to be fair, he had a hangover from the party the night before. #BYOB #BringYourOwnBooze #DowningStreetParties #downingstparty #BorisResign #BorisTheLiar #BorisJohnsonMustGo #BorisJohnsonOut https://t.co/wE7lg2jLNa
— Russ Appleby (@RussAppleby) January 10, 2022
There was much scepticism on social media over whether anyone would be held to account. One commentator referenced the allegations that the Metropolitan police have been accused of “deferring to the powerful” by not investigating the parties with an apt reference to Chief Wiggum, the bumbling and incompetent police chief in The Simpsons.
Pictured: The Met Police now being forced to investigate the #DowningStreetParties pic.twitter.com/CxACNTWKCw
— Joshua Crawley (@AllHailTheVoid) January 11, 2022
And some recommended the public channel their anger at the Conservatives into their voting intentions. One pithily suggested that perhaps the real party to focus on and be appalled by is the one currently occupying No 10.
It's time to get that Party out of No 10.#DowningStreetParties
— Lloyd Hardy (@LloydHardy) January 10, 2022
