The two events began in separate parts of Downing Street.
One was for departure of James Slack, then Boris’s director of comms. The other for one of Mr Johnson’s photographers.
We have talked to eyewitnesses.
It is alleged at the photographer’s leaving do:
* Someone went to Co-Op on the Strand to fill a suitcase full of wine bottles
* Music played on a laptop in the Downing St basement as people danced
* A senior No10 adviser acted as DJ at points, picking the tracks
It is alleged at Slack’s leaving do:
* He gave a farewell speech after work to thank staff. Some not there attended via video link
* Alcohol was opened up. Staff drank late into the night. They ended up in the Downing St garden
Is understood both leaving events eventually merged and carried on in the Downing St garden.
Some stayed past midnight, per an eye witness. It is claimed someone tried Wilf Johnson’s swing and it broke.
One present said the events were undeniably parties.
At the time the country was in a “period of public mourning” to mark the Duke’s passing.
Union flags on government buildings across Westminster were at half mast.
Members of the public could not lay flowers in tribute due to Covid. The book of condolence was online only.
We were also in stage two of lockdown. The Government’s own guidance:
“You must not socialise indoors except with your household or support bubble. You can meet outdoors, including in gardens, in groups of six people or two households."
Important to note - Boris Johnson was not in Downing Street that day, according to Number 10. He went to Chequers on Thursday and was there through to Saturday.
Hours after the Downing St leaving dos wrapped up, the Royal Family gathered for the Duke’s funeral.
Only 30 people were allowed to attend. Due to social distancing rules, the Queen sat alone.
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What on earth could the PM say at PMQs? We don’t know. But to speculate, some options. 1/ A major mea culpa. Accept gatherings happened that looked inappropriate, possibly someone goes. Say sorry, even while arguing somehow rules weren’t broken on work grounds. 2/…
Argue that PM was not aware of the invitation or organisation of the May 20 drinks. Theoretically could try to repeat defence from the Guardian photo gathering - thought it was in work talking about work with drinks. We don’t know yet for sure PM knew about Reynolds email. 3/…
Any argument that rules weren’t broken would likely have No10’s unique position as work / home / centre of government at its heart. People were working all hours, boundaries blurred, work events with social element were problematic but not deliberately ill-intentioned, etc. 4/…
1/ Right. After a load of calls some clarity is emerging about what happened at Cabinet. In short: A lot of cab ministers made clear their concern about moving to tougher new restrictions now. Lots centred on the need for more data. With @christopherhope. telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
2/ Cabinet gathering described by those in the room as discursive. A “wide range of viewpoints” shared. Unlike a lot of the cab meetings it does appear to have been a more general discussion about Omicron approach rather than a ‘here’s the plan, up or down’ meeting.
3/ Those arguing for caution on tougher restrictions can be split largely into two camps - cabinet ministers with economic briefs and those on the libertarian wing of the party / who are championing protection of freedoms.
The minutes from Thursday’s SAGE meeting have just dropped and they include this startling line:
“In England it is almost certain that there are now hundreds of thousands of new Omicron infections per day.”
Also this from Sage:
“Without intervention beyond those measures already in place (‘Plan B’), modelling indicates a peak of at least 3,000 hospital admissions per day in England.”
Take these two together - hundreds of thousands of new infections a day and hospitalisations hitting 3k a day even with Plan B - and it’s hard not to see the Government going for tighter restrictions soon.
Right. Specifics re Plan B have been bouncing round all day and still being finalised but here are some bits about where we are....
1/ A carve out on face masks is expected for hospitality sector, per two Gov sources. That's what went into system this morning. If so then no masks forced in pubs and restaurants.
2/ Has been debate all day about face masks coming back in classrooms but sounds like it WON'T happen. Again being finalised currently but one to watch