A senior Labour MP has doubled down on calls for police to investigate allegations that a rule-breaking ‘Christmas party’ was held in Downing Street.
metro.co.uk/2021/12/07/lab…
metro.co.uk/2021/12/07/lab…
As the row over the alleged gathering rumbled on, Emily Thornberry said ‘of course there should be’ a Met investigation into claims staff in the Prime Minister’s office broke Covid rules last year. 
Several sources have claimed there were at least two events that took place in Number 10 in the run-up to Christmas 2020, one of which featured ‘party games, food and drinks’ and went on until past midnight.
Downing Street denied any parties happened and insisted all restrictions were followed.
But Dominic Cummings, has accused Number 10 of ‘lying’, while also claiming that journalists who were present at the party are now trying to ‘cover it up.’
But Dominic Cummings, has accused Number 10 of ‘lying’, while also claiming that journalists who were present at the party are now trying to ‘cover it up.’
Appearing on Sky News this morning, deputy prime minister Dominic Raab said it was ‘pretty categorical’ that no party took place.
‘Number 10 have been very clear. There was no party, there was no breach of the rules…I don’t have anything further to add’, he said.
‘Number 10 have been very clear. There was no party, there was no breach of the rules…I don’t have anything further to add’, he said.
Mr Raab recently said police ‘don’t normally investigate things that happened a year ago.’
But a 36-year-old man is currently being prosecuted for holding a gathering of two or more people in Ilford, east London, on the same day as one of the alleged events in Downing Street.
But a 36-year-old man is currently being prosecuted for holding a gathering of two or more people in Ilford, east London, on the same day as one of the alleged events in Downing Street.
Mr Raab claimed he was merely echoing a Metropolitan Police statement that said ‘in relation to Covid regulations, they wouldn’t routinely investigate retrospective breaches.’
He repeated that it was a matter for police whether to investigate any alleged rule-breaking.
He repeated that it was a matter for police whether to investigate any alleged rule-breaking.
Responding to the latest comments from the Government, Ms Thornberry, the shadow attorney general, told Sky: ‘You hear both things – you hear there was no party and, if there was a party, it kept to the rules. You can’t have it both ways.'
‘The evidence that we are hearing again in the papers today is that it was a staff party at Downing Street – that’s what it was.
‘If it quacks like a duck, if it smells like a duck, it is a duck. It was a party. They had a party at Number 10 in breach of the rules.’
‘If it quacks like a duck, if it smells like a duck, it is a duck. It was a party. They had a party at Number 10 in breach of the rules.’
She added: ‘The rules apply to all of us. They don’t have different rules for little people and no rules for Number 10.
‘The rules apply to everyone equally and it is unacceptable for them to think they are above that.’
‘The rules apply to everyone equally and it is unacceptable for them to think they are above that.’
At the time of the alleged second party, said to have been held on December 18, tier three rules in place in London explicitly banned work Christmas lunches and parties that were ‘a primarily social activity’.
The Times reported that the alleged event was organised by staff on WhatsApp and guests were asked to bring Secret Santa presents while some wore Christmas jumpers.
Two Labour MPs have referred the matter to the police who are still considering their response.
Two Labour MPs have referred the matter to the police who are still considering their response.
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