This is the leaked picture of a lockdown breaching Christmas party at the Tories' Westminster HQ last year.
The image shows 24 people people crowded together in a room in a blatant breach of Covid lockdown policies, the Mirror exclusively reports.
The event, organised by top Tory Shaun Bailey ’s mayoral campaign, took place on December 14 last year when London was in Tier 2 restrictions.
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After he was approached by the Mirror on Tuesday night, Mr Bailey quit as chair of the London Assembly’s police and crime committee.
The image also shows several other guests - including billionaire Tory donor Nick Candy - who can be seen in the grey jacket - raising glasses of wine.
A buffet table can also be seen.
One of the revellers was a senior figure on Boris Johnson's leadership election campaign.
It emerged last week that Conservative staff danced and drank wine late into the night and revellers damaged a door at what was described as a “raucous” event.
At the time, the capital was in Tier 2 restrictions which banned any social mixing between households indoors.
The Conservatives have said that “formal disciplinary action” had been taken against four CCHQ staff seconded to the campaign.
A spokesman said: “Senior CCHQ staff became aware of an unauthorised social gathering in the basement of [CCHQ] organised by the Bailey campaign on the evening of 14th December.
“Formal disciplinary action was taken against the four CCHQ staff who were seconded to the Bailey campaign.”
Scotland Yard has until now refused to investigate the Christmas gatherings citing a lack of evidence.
Mr Bailey, who does not drink alcohol, is said to have left the party early in the evening, shortly after the picture was taken.
A Shaun Bailey campaign spokesperson said: “On the evening of 14 December 2020, at the end of the working day, the campaign hosted a post-work event to thank campaign staff for their efforts over the course of the year.
“This was a serious error of judgement and we fully accept that gathering like this as that time was wrong and apologise unreservedly”.
A spokesperson for Mr Candy said: “Nick Candy attended the office of the Shaun Bailey campaign for an end of year review on 14 December 2021. He gave a short thank you speech to the team and spent some time with Shaun Bailey to discuss campaign matters before leaving shortly afterwards.”
