Photos of Boris Johnson having a drink with collaborators in Downing Street in the midst of the 2020 lockdown reignited accusations that the prime minister lied when he said there were never any parties, just before the publication of a long-awaited internal report on the matter.
The images, published on Monday night by ITV News, were taken at communications chief Lee Cain’s farewell party on November 13, 2020, just days after the announcement of a second lockdown in England.
In them, Johnson is seen raising a glass and chatting with several people around a table with bottles of wine and food, at a time when social gatherings were prohibited.
This farewell was the subject of a police investigation, like other festive events held in government offices during the pandemic, a scandal known as “partygate”.
When asked in Parliament last year about this November event, Johnson assured that there was no party on that date and that he was sure that the rules had not been broken.
The prime minister was subsequently fined for attending a surprise party on the occasion of his 56th birthday in the cabinet room in Downing Street.
However, the police investigation is now over and Johnson was not sanctioned for Cain’s wrap party, sparking outrage among the opposition.
Labor Party number two Angela Rayner found it “surprising” that the Conservative leader was not fined for a party “that didn’t seem particularly like a work event”, she told ITV.
With the aggravating circumstance that, according to Rayner, Johnson “knew that he had broken the rules (…) and still tried to get rid of it. He tried to lie to the British and he tried to lie to Parliament,” he denounced.
Transport Minister Grant Shapps defended the prime minister on Tuesday, saying in photos he appears to be “walking down the stairs from the office, raising a glass to thank his staff and not seeing it as a party.”
In the coming days, senior official Sue Gray is due to release a long-awaited internal “partygate” report, which could provide details and photos of the various events, adding fuel to the fire.
Later, a parliamentary commission will have to determine if Johnson knowingly lied to the deputies.
