The Boris Johnson aide caught joking about a Downing Street party during lockdown has resigned from her government role.
Allegra Stratton quit as an advisor to Boris Johnson after footage showed her laughing about a Christmas party at Number 10 last year.
Former BBC, ITV and Guardian journalist Ms Stratton was rehearsing for a Downing Street briefing when the clip was filmed of her and other aides laughing about how she should answer a question about a party on the previous Friday night.
On Wednesday the aide and former Press Secretary spoke outside her home after the Prime Minister said an investigation would be held into the allegations, according to The Mirror.
The Metropolitan Police has also confirmed officers are reviewing the leaked video in relation to "alleged breaches" of coronavirus regulations.
Ms Stratton, who also worked as COP26 spokeswoman, said she had "become a distraction in that fight" against the Covid pandemic.
She added: "My remarks seemed to make light of the rules, rules that people were doing everything to obey.
"That was never my intention.
"I will regret those remarks for the rest of my days and I offer my profound apologies to all of you at home for them."
For a week after the Mirror revealed the bash, which happened on December 18 last year and when London was in Tier 3 lockdown rules, ministers insisted no rules were broken.
Downing Street even tried to insinuate it didn’t happen - by claiming whatever took place wasn’t a party.
But then a clip was leaked to ITV News of a private ‘mock’ press conference four days after the bash, which involved a Secret Santa, wine, a quiz and “40 or 50” people.
War-gaming questions if the event leaked, then-Press Secretary Allegra Stratton shrugged “what’s the answer?” before joking it was “was not socially distanced”.
For more stories from where you live, visit InYourArea
