THE PRIME Minister is facing further pressure after a bombshell e-mail allegedly showed more than 100 Downing Street employees were invited to a ‘bring your own booze’ drinks party in May 2020, during the first lockdown.
In the e-mail obtained by ITV News, Boris Johnson’s principal private secretary Martin Reynolds said staff should ‘make the most of the lovely weather’ while the rest of the country was banned from meeting more than one person outside.
Just 55 minutes before the email was sent, then Culture Secretary and now Conservative Party chairman Oliver Dowden appeared on TV to reiterate the rules, saying: “You can meet one person outside of your household in an outdoor, public place provided that you stay two metres apart.”
Scotland Yard has confirmed that the police are in touch with the Cabinet Office regarding the matter.
A spokesperson said: “The Metropolitan Police Service is aware of widespread reporting relating to alleged breaches of the Health Protection Regulations at Downing Street on May 20 2020 and is in contact with the Cabinet Office.”
Mr Johnson and his aides dodged questions on whether he attended the gathering.
Number 10 said it would not be commenting on the allegations while Sue Gray, a senior civil servant, carries out her inquiry into numerous allegations of rule-breaking events being held in Downing Street during the coronavirus pandemic.
Rugby and Bulkington MP Mark Pawsey has been contacted for comment.
