I have short comment piece in the Mirror on this story - I think that the "unofficial Christmas party" on 18 Dec 2020 with 40-50 people at No. 10 probably broke the Covid rules. /1
https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/1465816467354660867
At the time (Tier 3), you could only have gatherings over 30 indoors if they were a "permitted organised gathering", but that would require households not mingling, or if "reasonably necessary for work".
/2
/2
But a Christmas party was very unlikely to be "reasonably necessary for work"
Although not binding on a court, it is probably relevant that the government's own guidance at the time said this:
gov.uk/guidance/guida… /3
Although not binding on a court, it is probably relevant that the government's own guidance at the time said this:
gov.uk/guidance/guida… /3
I can see how late nights working at No. 10 could lead to a bit of drinking / socialising which could be in a grey zone - but I think that purely social gatherings which weren't e.g. combined with work meetings - like a Christmas party - weren't "reasonably necessary" /4
You could probably say the same about the "leaving party" which the PM attended on 27 November which happened during the November-December national lockdown.
If you had asked the govt at the time is a "leaving do" reasonably necessary for work they would have said "no" /5
If you had asked the govt at the time is a "leaving do" reasonably necessary for work they would have said "no" /5
The full story by @PippaCrerar is here mirror.co.uk/news/politics/…
At the time, anyone who held, or was involved in the holding of an illegal gathering over 30 people indoors would potentially have committed a criminal offence. They could be charged or given a £10,000 fixed penalty notice. /6
My "top" view has now been published mirror.co.uk/news/politics/…
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