Boris Johnson joked to Downing Street staff that “this is the most unsocially distanced party in the UK right now” at a leaving do held during the Covid pandemic, it has been claimed. ITV said the former prime minster made the remark at a “boozy” party in No 10 while coronavirus restrictions were in place.
The comments have been put to Mr Johnson and Downing Street. The broadcaster said that when it put the quote to Mr Johnson, who was pressured by his party into announcing his departure from No 10 in the summer, the former Conservative leader “did not deny saying it”.
The claim is part of a number of new allegations made in an ITV podcast, Partygate: The Inside Story. It reports that a source said: “I was working late – some music came on, the mumbling sort of rose, and there were loads of people stood around, but this time I came out because I heard the prime minister speaking and that’s when I heard the quote: ‘This is the most unsocially distanced party in the UK right now’ and everyone was laughing about it.”
Mr Johnson was fined as part of a police investigation into gatherings held in Downing Street while social distancing restrictions were in place. However, he was fined for attending his own birthday party in the Cabinet Room in Downing Street in June 2020 rather than for the alleged party the ITV source mentions.
He is still due to appear before the Commons Privileges Committee over comments he made to MPs from the despatch box about so-called “partygate”. Among other claims, ITV reports that whistleblowers told the podcast that staff “corroborated their stories” before filling out Metropolitan Police questionnaires about their potential involvement in rule-breaking gatherings.
The podcast also reports that only half of the parties that occurred were ever investigated by Sue Gray, the senior Cabinet Office official who investigated the partygate claims, or the Met.
Boris Johnson “worked constantly” to ensure the UK government was acting to “save lives”, a spokesman said in reaction to fresh allegations about parties held under his watch in Downing Street during the Covid pandemic.
A spokesman for the former prime minister said: “During the Covid-19 pandemic Boris Johnson led our country through its most dangerous peacetime crisis in living memory.
“As prime minister during a 24/7 national emergency he worked constantly to ensure the government did everything possible in its power to save lives and protect livelihoods.
“Mr Johnson pays heartfelt tribute to the heroic frontline workers who battled the pandemic, many of whom lost their lives. Their service to our country will always be remembered.
“He is also incredibly grateful for the efforts of hardworking staff who were working in central government – the vast majority of them civil servants – who helped co-ordinate the UK’s national response from 10 Downing Street, across Whitehall and throughout the wider UK government.
“Their work was crucial as they helped marshal the UK government’s response during a national emergency.”
