It has been revealed Grant Shapps' staff threw a lockdown-breaking Christmas party last year.
The Transport Secretary denies any knowledge of the festive bash which took place in a Whitehall office on December 16 2020 - as Mirror Online reports.
This was the same day the Government imposed Tier 3 restrictions on London which required pubs to close and banned people from different households mixing.
READ MORE: First image of 'raucous' Tory Christmas party thrown in lockdown
However, senior staff from the Tory Minister's private office were joined by almost a dozen other civil servants and were "boozing and dancing" after work from 5pm.
A spokesman for Mr Shapps said he had "absolutely no idea" of the gathering.
They added: "He was not notified or invited and would have banned such a gathering forthwith, had he been made aware that it was being prepared.
"As he was unable to visit his seriously ill father in hospital due to covid restrictions, he was all too keenly aware of the sacrifices being made by the public during lockdown."
The Department for Transport has apologised for the "inappropriate" event and staff's "error of judgement".
A spokesman said: “The Secretary of State wasn’t involved in any gathering at the Department.
“Fewer than a dozen staff who were working in the office had a low-key, socially distanced, gathering in the large open-plan office after work on the 16th December, where food and drink was consumed.
“We recognise this was inappropriate and apologise for the error of judgement.”
Sources said staff munched on takeaway food and drinks at the bash which took place just days before London was gripped by rail chaos as thousands tried to leave for Christmas to be with family.
An insider told the Mirror: "They clearly had no understanding of what the public were going through.
"Senior officials were literally boozing and dancing while the government were warning people they had to stick to the rules."
The revelation comes after Mr Shapps hit out at the Tories' former London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey for holding a party at CCHQ last year, as "disgraceful'' and "unacceptable”.
Labour's Shadow Transport Minister Mike Kane hit out at the "culture" of rule-breaking in Whitehall.
He said: “ Transport workers were literally putting their lives on the line as London went into Tier 3 while Grant Shapps’ private office were hosting a party.
"Transport workers showed incredible leadership throughout the pandemic; it’s appalling that the culture in Grant Shapps’ private office allowed such irresponsible behaviour.”
Mr Shapps also denies knowing about separate virtual Christmas drinks, also held by Department of Transport staff, on Thursday December 17 - the day after the in-person party.
The news comes as Boris Johnson is under pressure over Christmas parties held at Downing Street last December, one of which shows the Prime Minister breaking rules himself by taking part in a quiz.
The Met Police faces calls to investigate No10's parties and the PM has asked Cabinet Secretary Simon Case to launch a civil service probe, which will be made public.
Police said officers would not "at this time" investigate, but the Met added in a statement today: "If any evidence emerges of behaviour that is potentially a criminal offence it will be passed to the Met for further consideration."
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
.png?w=600)
