PM accused of lying after No 10 officials caught joking about Christmas party

Boris Johnson is facing accusations of lying after senior No 10 officials were filmed joking about a lockdown Christmas party that Downing Street insists did not take place.

Johnson and his aides have repeatedly denied that the event, reportedly held for staff at No 10 in December last year, broke Covid rules or took place at all.

The footage, obtained by ITV, was shot on 22 December 2020. The Friday before was 18 December, the date on which multiple sources have said there was a staff party inside Downing Street, which would have contravened strict Covid regulations in place at the time.

The exchanges give the strong impression that a staff-based party took place on 18 December and that No 10 officials realised that they were likely to have broken rules.

Stratton, who has since become the spokesperson for Cop26, and Oldfield, who remains at Downing Street, have been contacted for comment.

Oldfield: Would the prime minister condone having a Christmas party?

[Laughter throughout briefing room]

Stratton: Is cheese and wine alright? It was a business meeting.

[Laughter throughout briefing room]

Downing St employee: No, joking.

Stratton [laughing]: This is recorded. This fictional party was a business meeting [laughs] and it was not socially distanced.