Partygate: A timeline of lockdown gatherings while Boris Johnson was prime minister
This story has been updated to read: The Covid Inquiry sets out its findings on the government’s handling of the pandemic.
Boris Johnson and his senior advisers are set to explore the results of an inquiry into the government’s decisions before and during the pandemic.
Key players, including former prime minister and then health secretary Matt Hancock, gave evidence to the inquiry about what they were thinking in 2020, including before the first lockdown was announced in March.
They were questioned in a series of hearings about government measures implemented during the pandemic, such as Covid testing, social distancing and the Eat Out to Help Out scheme designed to support businesses.
Mr Johnson was also heavily criticized for breaking lockdown rules in Downing Street; This shows that multiple meetings took place in violation of Covid rules.
Here’s a look at the events that took place and what Mr Johnson said: commons About them while he was Prime Minister:
15 May 2020: Cheese and wine in the Downing Street garden
Mr Johnson was photographed sitting at a table filled with wine and cheese in garden 10 with his wife Carrie and their team.
At that time, people were legally unable to leave the house without a reasonable excuse and could only meet with one person from another household.
May 20, 2020: Bring your own drinking party
The same restrictions applied if No 10 staff gathered for a bring-your-own-drinks event in Downing Street’s gardens.
The Prime Minister’s private principal secretary, Martin Reynolds, emailed around 200 staff inviting them to “socially distanced drinks in the garden”.
Sue Gray’s report showed other emails reminding people to be “careful” of cameras leaving due to Covid press conference; so people shouldn’t “go around waving wine bottles”. His report said Mr Johnson attended “with approximately 30-40 people in the garden” for “approximately 30 minutes”.
Mr Johnson admitted he was there for 25 minutes but said he thought it was a “work event” to thank employees for their efforts during the pandemic. The Metropolitan Police issued a ticket in connection with this incident.
A meeting was held at No. 10 and then at No. 70 Whitehall to celebrate the departure of private secretary No.
Ms Gray’s report said: “Some people were consuming alcohol excessively. One person was ill. There was a minor argument between two other people.”
At that time, it was forbidden for two or more people to gather indoors and more than six people to gather outdoors. The police were fined for this meeting.
19 June 2020: Boris Johnson’s 56th Birthday
Downing Street has previously acknowledged that staff “gathered briefly” in the Cabinet Room for a surprise get-together for Mr Johnson, organized by his now-wife Carrie. Conor Burns, one of the former prime minister’s allies, said he was “ambushed with a cake” at the event.
Mr Johnson, his wife and then-chancellor Rishi Sunak received £50 fixed penalty notices from Scotland Yard for attending the party.
However, No 10 denied reports that family and friends were hosted upstairs to celebrate the occasion later that evening. The law at the time prohibited two or more people from different households from being indoors at the same time.
Ms Gray’s report said neither Mr Johnson nor Mr Sunak had prior knowledge of the incident and that “those in attendance consumed food and drink, some drinking alcohol”.
13 November 2020: Flat in Downing Street
Carrie Johnson reportedly hosted parties at No. 11, where she and her husband lived, including an event on November 13, the day of Dominic Cummings’ acrimonious departure.
A spokesman for the prime minister’s wife described the claim as “complete nonsense”.
However, later reports suggested that Mr Johnson was seen going to the flat on the night in question and that Abba songs, including The Winner Takes It All, could be heard from the house.
A second national lockdown for England began on 5 November.
During this period, people were ordered to stay at home and different households were banned from meeting indoors or in private gardens unless in a support bubble.
Ms Gray’s report said that following the conclusion of the Met Police’s investigation, it decided it was “not appropriate or proportionate” to hold an investigation into the events.
13 November 2020: Senior deputy leaves the party
Footage published in Ms Gray’s report shows Mr Johnson raising a glass while surrounded by colleagues and bottles of wine.
Days after England ordered its second national lockdown, pictures showed the then prime minister toasting to outgoing communications chief Lee Cain on November 13, 2020.
The Metropolitan Police issued fixed penalty notices for the incident. At the time, people organizing large gatherings of more than 30 people could be fined £10,000.
November 13, 2020: Another separation
Ms Gray’s report said about 20 people had gathered in the No 10 press office area to bid farewell to a special adviser and Mr Johnson also dropped by.
15 December 2020: online Christmas quiz at No 10
Photos showed Mr Johnson next to an open bottle of sparkling wine as he took part in a virtual Christmas quiz for No 10 staff.
17 December 2020: Cabinet Office ‘Christmas party’
Cabinet Secretary Simon Case withdrew from the investigation into the Whitehall parties after reports emerged of a meeting in the Cabinet Office and was replaced by Ms Grey.
The job was organized by a private secretary on Mr Case’s team, and digital calendars were marked “Christmas party!” It was reported that it was recorded as . and included an online test.
The Cabinet Office said Mr Case played no part in the event but passed through the team’s office on his way to his own room.
Days before the event, London moved into Stage 3 of the then-current lockdown system in England; This meant the hospitality sector had to close, except for takeaways, and groups of six could only meet in open public spaces.
Ms Gray’s report stated: “A virtual exam was held in the Cabinet Secretary’s private office for staff who were in the office that day and were working from home.
Alcohol and food were consumed during the quiz competition, which lasted approximately 90 minutes in total.
The Met issued a fine for this meeting.
December 17, 2020: No. Two. leaving 10
Events were organized for two officers who left No. 10 on the same day. Kate Josephs, former chief executive of the Government’s Covid Taskforce, said she was “really sorry” for leaving the drinks held at the Cabinet Office.
Ms Gray’s report said Mr Johnson joined them for about 15 minutes to make a speech thanking them.
The other official to leave was reportedly Captain Steve Higham, one of Mr Johnson’s private secretaries.
18 December 2020: Downing Street Christmas party
Officials and counselors reportedly gave speeches, enjoyed cheese platters, drank together and exchanged secret Santa gifts. The Prime Minister did not attend.
Mr Johnson’s spokeswoman Allegra Stratton resigned after a video emerged of her joking about a “fictional party” at a mock press conference.
Ms Gray’s report stated that the meeting in the No 10 press office lasted “several hours”. It was stated that 20 to 45 people attended throughout the evening. He also said “some staff had been drinking excessively” and cleaners later found “red wine spilled” on the wall.
At that time, indoor gatherings of two or more people from different households were prohibited. The police were fined for the incident.
14 January 2021: More Downing Street dropping off drinks
A meeting was held at number 10 to celebrate the departure of the two private secretaries, and Mr Johnson attended briefly to make a speech.
The third national lockdown began on January 6, meaning people were once again told to stay at home.
16 April 2021: Two parting on the eve of the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral
The night before the Queen sat alone at the funeral of her husband of more than 70 years, in line with then-Covid rules, two leaving parties were reportedly held at No 10.
Downing Street has apologized to Buckingham Palace after details emerged about booze parties involving outgoing communications director James Slack.
Socializing with people from other households was not allowed indoors and meeting others outdoors was limited to groups of six or two households.
Ms. Gray’s report mentions “two separate incidents of separation”; one for Mr Slack and the other for an unnamed Number 10 official. “Alcohol was available and speeches were made at both events,” he said. “High-ranking officials attended. Both groups met in the garden number 10 on the same evening. The events lasted several hours. The Prime Minister was not at home.”
The police issued a fine for the incident.
May 7, 2021
Boris and Carrie Johnson reportedly hosted close friend and corporate event organizer Dixie Maloney at Checkers while some restrictions remain in place.
At the time, indoor gatherings between different households were banned except where “reasonably necessary” for reasons such as work or childcare, or to provide care or assistance to a vulnerable person, including a pregnant person.
Guard He reportedly helped unofficially plan the couple’s wedding, which took place in Downing Street three weeks later, but the couple and Ms Maloney have disputed any suggestion that they had broken the law; Sources said Ms. Johnson was there for child care reasons because she was pregnant.
November 2021
Initial reports from the parties emerged, followed by a series of denials from Mr Johnson, Downing Street and Cabinet ministers.
April 12, 2022
A spokesman for No 10 confirmed Mr Johnson and Mr Sunak will be fined for breaching Covid-19 regulations following claims parties in Downing Street and Whitehall were quarantined.
Mr Johnson, his wife and the then-chancellor apologized and confirmed they had paid the fines imposed for a party held on June 19, 2020, to celebrate Mr Johnson’s 56th birthday.
