A petition set up in the wake of the newest reports of a Downing Street staff party last summer has garnered more than 24,000 signatures less than a day after being launched.
The petition, entitled 'Bring Downing Street Partygoers to justice', was set up by Elissa Harper on Monday (January 10) evening as reports came out about a gathering at the Prime Minister's official residence on May 20, 2020.
She says: "Reports allege that during the height of the first lockdown in May 2020 a party was held in the Downing Street garden. These reports are corroborated by an email sent by Martin Reynolds, Boris Johnson’s Private Secretary.
"More than 100 Downing Street staff were invited to the gathering and told to 'bring your own booze'."
Mr Reynolds reportedly said they should “make the most of the lovely weather”, despite England being under tough coronavirus restrictions banning groups from meeting socially outdoors when the message was sent.
The petition's author points out that on the same day the gathering is said to have taken place, Minister Oliver Dowden reminded the nation during the daily press conference that they must only meet in pairs outdoors otherwise they would be breaking the law.
Elissa goes on: "Boris Johnson, our Prime Minister has refused to say whether he had attended the drinks party, but a source told The Independent he had 'hung out' with staff for at least an hour as they knocked back drinks."
The reason for Elissa's anger, she explains: "As hundreds of people were arrested and fined for breaking lockdown restrictions during the course of 2020.
"Thousands more struggled in isolation. Alone and in care homes people passed away without being able to say goodbye to their families."
As of 7.30pm on Tuesday, there were more than 24,000 people who had signed the petition to "bring the partygoers to justice".
The news has also drawn fury from MPs and other prominent Conservative figures, while former No 10 chief of staff Lord Barwell ridiculed the PM on social media – suggesting it would not take an investigation for Boris Johnson to figure out if he had been part of the gathering.
Police are in contact with the Cabinet Office over the claims, which came to a head on Monday night.
The allegations are being examined by senior official Sue Gray as part of her investigation into claims of lockdown-busting parties in Whitehall and Downing Street.
