A Tory MP has defended his attendance at a Christmas dinner for 27 people - claiming it was a business meeting.
Tobias Ellwood, chairman of the powerful Commons Defence Committee, spoke indoors at Tuesday’s event at a private members’ club hours before London entered Tier 3.
The Iraq Britain Business Council, which hosted the event, described it on its website as a “Christmas party” and later a “business dinner”.
Mr Ellwood insisted rules were not broken and the Cavalry and Guards Club “went to extreme lengths” to make the event Covid-compliant.
Tier 2 laws ban people from holding or taking part in indoor gatherings between multiple households, with £200 on-the-spot fines for first offenders.
However there are a string of exemptions under the law, including for any gathering which is “reasonably necessary for work purposes”.
Questioned by the Daily Mail, which revealed the meeting, Mr Ellwood said 27 people attended but “they all followed the guidance”.
He added: “I would not be attending a Christmas party, it was a business meeting.
“I went there to meet business people and that is what it was. The club went to extreme lengths so that as a business function it was absolutely Covid-compliant.”
In a write-up of the event on its website, the Iraq Britain Business Council said guests included a delegation from the Iraqi Embassy.
The event was hosted by Tory peer and IBBC chairwoman Baroness Nicholson.
The IBBC added: “Working with the venue this event was fully covid compliant.”
