The Health Secretary has been quizzed in the House of Commons on the No 10 Downing Street Christmas party which is alleged to have taken place in 2020.
No 10 has spent Monday (December 6) resisting growing pressure to explain the incident, as the Metropolitan Police considered complaints submitted by two Labour MPs, according to PA.
The Daily Mirror reported two events took place in No 10 last year in the run-up to the festive season, including Boris Johnson giving a speech at a leaving do during November’s lockdown.
The other was said to be a staff party in December where party games were played, food and drinks were served, and revelries went on past midnight.
At the time, the Tier 3 rules in place in London explicitly banned work Christmas lunches and parties where it is “a primarily social activity and is not otherwise permitted”.
Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting raised questions about the alleged party in the Commons, saying: “I am sure the Secretary of State will agree with me that the effectiveness of the Government’s response to the pandemic and public compliance with the rules will depend on public confidence in those setting the rules.
“Residents in Ilford are this week being prosecuted for holding an indoor gathering of two or more people on December 18 2020, and rightly so.
“Isn’t it time that the Government comes clean about the event in Downing Street on that same day, admit they broke the rules and apologise – or does the Secretary of State believe, as the Prime Minister appears to, that it’s one rule for them and another rule for everyone else?”
Sajid Javid replied: “In terms of rules, of course they should apply to everyone, regardless of who they are.”
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman told reporters earlier today: “There was not a party, and Covid rules have been followed at all times.”
He added that Downing Street was still considering holding a staff party this year despite Mr Raab ruling out one for the Ministry of Justice.
The spokesman said: “We haven’t confirmed any dates at the moment.
“I think there is an intention to have a Christmas party this year.
“There is nothing in the limited restrictions that we’ve introduced that would prevent Christmas parties from taking place.”
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