Britain's government is teetering over an alleged 2020 Christmas party at No. 10 Downing Street
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Cabinet ministers have denied that No. 10 Downing Street broke the government's own COVID-19 rules last Christmas ever since The Daily Mirror reported last week that "40 to 50" members of Johnson's staff crowded together for celebrations at least twice last winter, including a Nov. 27 party for a departing aide and an unofficial Christmas party on Dec. 18. On Dec. 16, Johnson's government had banned most indoor gatherings of two or more people, and police raided and fined such gatherings all last winter.
The government's denials, maintained even as other news organizations backed up the Mirror's reporting, became increasingly untenable after iTV released leaked video Tuesday of Johnson's senior staff joking about a Christmas party on Dec. 22, during what appears to be a mock press briefing.
In the video, Johnson adviser Ed Oldfield asks press secretary Allegra Stratton about reports of a party on Dec. 18, to which she replies, "I went home." Other aides joke about how "it wasn't a party, it was cheese and wine," and Stratton laughs and says, "This fictional party was a business meeting and it was not socially distanced."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"It is expected Boris Johnson will face tough questions about the party — and the video — from Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer" when he faces Parliament, BBC News reports. "To lie and to laugh about those lies is shameful," Starmer said in a statement, and Johnson should "come clean and apologize." BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg reports there's also "backbench fury" in Johnson's own Conservative Party.
More recent leaked video also went viral on Tuesday, of House of Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg joking about the alleged illicit party at a gathering Monday night. "This party is not going to be investigated by the police in a year's time," he said, adding that the crowd is "very carefully socially distanced ... two inches away from each other."
So "what are the likely consequences of this deep embarrassment for No. 10?" the BBC's Kuenssberg asks. "First off and most importantly, many members of the public — most poignantly those who lost relatives to COVID — will feel intensely hacked off." Johnson is facing demands for mass firings and "a groveling apology," she adds, and "even with an enormous majority and unrivaled political celebrity, Boris Johnson's Downing Street might be a lonely place to be this Christmas."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Wyoming judge strikes down abortion, pill bans
Speed Read The judge said the laws — one of which was a first-in-the-nation prohibition on the use of medication to end pregnancy — violated the state's constitution
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US sanctions Israeli West Bank settler group
Speed Read The Biden administration has imposed sanctions on Amana, Israel's largest settlement development organization
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Gaetz ethics report in limbo as sex allegations emerge
Speed Read A lawyer representing two women alleges that Matt Gaetz paid them for sex, and one witnessed him having sex with minor
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden allows Ukraine to hit deep in Russia
Speed Read The U.S. gave Ukraine the green light to use ATACMS missiles supplied by Washington, a decision influenced by Russia's escalation of the war with North Korean troops
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Sri Lanka's new Marxist leader wins huge majority
Speed Read The left-leaning coalition of newly elected Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake won 159 of the legislature's 225 seats
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden arrives in Peru for final summits
Speed Read President Joe Biden will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, visit the Amazon rainforest and attend two major international summits
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Senate GOP selects Thune, House GOP keeps Johnson
Speed Read John Thune will replace Mitch McConnell as Senate majority leader, and Mike Johnson will remain House speaker in Congress
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump tests GOP loyalty with Gaetz, Gabbard picks
Speed Read He named Matt Gaetz as his pick for attorney general and Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence. Both have little experience in their proposed jurisdictions.
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published