Kate Josephs, the former head of the Government unit responsible for drawing covid-19 restrictions, was given a leaving do in the Cabinet Office on December 17 2020 - the day before the Number 10 Xmas Party
The Telegraph has been told that “dozens” of officials from the Cabinet Office’s Covid-19 taskforce attended the event on Dec 17 2020 while the country was still under draconian restrictions.
Same evening that Simon Case’s own staff held a gathering in his private office
Ms Josephs, who was awarded the Companion of the Order of the Bath in the Queen’s Birthday honours last June in recognition of her exemplary public service, left the Government the following day.
Sue Gray is now investigating the party.
Ms Josephs has decided to tweet out an apology after we contacted her regarding the allegations.
A source with knowledge of the incident also alleged that Simon Case, the Cabinet Secretary, was invited to the event, although the Cabinet Office said “categorically” that he did not attend.
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The committee is also looking at whether MPs should be forced to have contracts with firms they work for - in order to clarify the exact nature of their role.
It emerged during the Paterson investigation he had no contract
However, in a move that suggests the Committee is willing to compromise with Government, I’m told it could also consider a new appeals body.
This could look similar to the Independent Expert Panel (set up for bullying and harassment cases) - or just expand its remit
Government departments have now been instructed to begin drawing up domestic alternatives should ministers decide to pull out.
The details of the work are contained in an official paper discussed this week at the GBO cabinet committee, and later leaked to me.
The document appears to suggest ministers are actively drawing up measures to mitigate various retaliatory options open to the European Commission should Britain trigger Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol in the coming weeks.
Elaine Lightfoot is due to stand as a candidate in next month's local elections in West Devon. In August last year she shared the following post on her Facebook account:
Another she shared in July 2016 accused Labour MP Angela Eagle of being “bankers b----” who is “owned by the Zionists”
In today’s Telegraph: Labour general secretary in stand-off with MPs over anti-Semitism.
I’ve also been passed a dossier revealing at least 20 party members accused of anti-Semitism have been allowed to remain in party after investigation since Nov.