Partygate: A Complete Timeline

Image from Matthew Browne, via Unsplash.

A lot happened in 2021; Joe Biden became President, the Taliban returned to power, vaccines made to combat Coronavirus were distributed worldwide, and COP26 found countries failing the Climate Change Challenge. One thing we couldn’t predict was the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, being outed for holding parties while the rest of the UK were in total isolation

May 5,2020: The Prime Minister joins fiancée and No10 officials for a gathering in the Downing Street garden.

Reportedly 20 officials and aides joined the couple to drink in the garden.

Boris Johnson and his then fiancée, Carrie, were pictured drinking wine with Martin Reynolds, the Prime Minister’s secretary, on the garden terrace.

May 20,2020: Number 10 allegedly throws a ‘socially distanced’ drinks party in the Downing Street garden.

Martin Reynolds sent an invite to over 100 people for ‘socially distanced’ drinks, writing in the email: “After what has been an incredibly busy period, we thought it would be nice to make the most of the lovely weather and have some socially distanced drinks in the No10 garden this evening.”

Despite concerns from Dominic Cummings and other senior staff, Reynolds reportedly decided that cancelling the gathering would be more damaging than holding the event.

Allegedly more than 40 officials and aides attended the garden party. Meanwhile, the rest of the UK were in a national lockdown, only able to leave the house for exercise or to meet one person, outside and socially distanced.

June 19, 2020: The Prime Minister’s wife holds a party at No10 to celebrate his 56th birthday.

Boris attended the party arranged by wife Carrie – the couple were married on May 29 – to celebrate him turning 56 years old.

The party, which was held in the cabinet room, was attended by 30 people. Lulu Lyle, the interior designer hired by the Johnson’s to refurbish the Downing Street flat, also attended.

The party was held just five days before Boris chaired a Covid strategy meeting to discuss lockdown measures.

November 13, 2020: Multiple gatherings held for Dominic Cummings resignation.

The parties, which took place in No10 and elsewhere, were attended by an unknown number of people. The Prime Minister was in attendance.

Within England, there had been a phased re-opening of schools, and non-essential shops were allowed to open. Indoor gatherings were not allowed.

December 10, 2020: Gavin Williamson throws a party for Department of Education staff.

Gavin Williamson, former Secretary of State for Education, reportedly throws a party attended by over 20 of his staff.

A source told The Mirror : “There were lots of people gathered in the café area, mingling, and drinking wine. It was just so reckless,”

Meanwhile, England were in level two lockdown: prohibiting indoor gatherings and outdoor gatherings of more than six.

December 18, 2020: Downing Street holds a Christmas staff party.

A Christmas party takes place at No10, organised via a WhatsApp group.

Several staff members were in attendance, donning Christmas jumpers and ‘secret Santa’ gifts.

During this time London was in tier three, meaning there was no mixing with anyone out with your household or ‘bubble’, gatherings could only be outside.

The very next day, Boris would announce London’s move to tier four.

December 25, 2020: The Johnson’s have their friend over for Christmas day.

Carrie Johnson’s friend Nimco Ali spends Christmas with the family, despite London being in the highest tier level.

Being in tier four meant that people were prevented from entering or leaving tier four areas and unable to spend the night anywhere but their own home.

Two people from different households could meet, though it had to take place outside.

October 18, 2021: The Johnson’s defend their decision to have Nimco stay over Christmas.

Harpers magazine was the first to report on the Johnson’s having their guest over Christmas.

Ali confirmed she spent Christmas with the family via Twitter, though she claimed no restrictions were broken.

No10 and their spokesperson refused to answer any questions regarding the claims.

November 30, 2021: The Daily Mirror reports on the Downing Street Christmas parties.

A year after the parties, the Daily Mirror accuses the Prime Minister of holding parties while the rest of the UK were in isolation.

The report claims a festive bash took place just days before Christmas, with around 40 – 50 staff in attendance, drinking wine and taking part in a Christmas quiz, and secret Santa.

December 7, 2021: Footage of a mock Downing Street press conference leaked.

ITV News obtained a video taken at a mock press conference at No10 during December 2020.

The video shows the Prime Minister’s then Press Secretary, Allegra Stratton, answering questions about a party the previous Friday.

Ed Oldfield, a Downing Street advisor, is heard asking Stratton about the parties: “I’ve just seen reports on Twitter that there was a Downing Street Christmas party on Friday night, do you recognise those reports?”

Stratton replied: “I went home.” Seemingly considering what the right answer would be, before reminding the aides that the mock conference was recorded.

Downing Streets spokesperson denied any party taking place, despite urges to tell the truth from Labour Party leader, Sir Keir Starmer.

December 8, 2021: Allegra Stratton resigns, and Gavin Williamson is accused of throwing a separate party in December 2020.

Just one day later, the Department for Education confirms the Mirror’s earlier claims about the party arranged by Gavin Williamson in December 2020.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, a spokesperson for the department said: “On December 10, 2020, a gathering of colleagues who were already present at the office – and who had worked together throughout the pandemic, as they couldn’t work from home – took place in the DfE office building in London at a time when the city was subject to tier two restrictions,”

Gavin Williamson did not respond to any probes about the party.

The UK responds negatively to the viral footage of Stratton at the mock press conference in 2020. She announces her resignation as spokesperson for COP26, becoming another one of Boris Johnson’s advisors to quit amid the Covid-related scandal.

January 11, 2022: Details of the May 2020 drinks party, arranged by Martin Reynolds, emerge. An investigation is launched.

Reynolds’ email, sent to over 100 people, inviting them to a ‘socially distanced’ drinks party is leaked. England were in a full lockdown.

Members of the public are understandably outraged and take to social media to share their thoughts on the situation.

Boris Johnson is forced to speak on the many claims during the PMQs, he admits he attended the gathering and claimed he believed it to be a ‘work event’, he said: “With hindsight I should have sent everyone back inside. I should have found some other way to thank them.”

Sue Gray, Senior civil servant, launches an investigation into that evening alongside six other alleged parties. She will be given every ounce of evidence available; Police reports, CCTV, and access to staff to interview.

One government source told the Independent: “In No 10 they seem to think they can ride it out, that either she will do a report that they can ignore or that it will have no teeth. They’re wrong. The problem is the entire top brass is implicated. It points to systemic rot. Sue is fierce, forensic and has a real sense of right and wrong. She’s also a creature of the system.”

January 24, 2022: Boris Johnson’s lockdown birthday party is brought to light.

This time, the Johnson’s are accused of holding a birthday party for the Prime Minister, inviting No10 staff and their interior designer, Lulu Lyle.

Up to 30 people were said to be at the event, to eat cake and sing happy birthday to Boris. Despite indoor gatherings being prohibited at the time.

Sue Gray was reportedly already aware of the gathering.

Public anger soars and calls for the PM to resign are at an all time high.

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January 31, 2022: Sue Gray’s report is delivered to No10.

Sue Gray’s report on the Downing Street parties was delivered to No10, and the Prime Minister will release a commons statement in response on Monday the 7th of February at 3.30pm.

Scotland Yard is conducting their own investigation into the party allegations, asking that the Sue Gray report not be published in full to prejudice their own enquiry.

Many Conservative MP’s are angry at Johnson for both his involvement in the parties and his handling of the allegations, wishing for him to resign.

Other Conservative MP’s are waiting for the report to be published in full before calling a vote of no confidence.

What happens next?

According to a report written by YouGov, just 35% of those who voted Conservative in 2019 intend to vote for them again in the 2024 election. Another YouGov survey of almost 5,600 adults found that 56% think Johnson should resign. However, Johnson seems to be clinging to his respective titles and scrambling to maintain a positive reputation.

Poll results from Politically Correct Instagram page

Surprisingly, 57% of readers believe that the Prime Minister will stay in position and effectively be let off ‘scot free’, despite 100% believing that he has been untruthful about the events occurring from May 2020 – January 2021.

The rolling likelihood to vote Conservative in the next general election has decreased from 4.15% on the 30th of November 2021, when the Daily Mirror initially reported on the Christmas parties, to 3.48% on the 30th of January 2022. A decrease of 16.14%.

A substantial 78% of readers believe the Conservative party will lose votes in the next general election because of the Partygate scandal. As it stands, Labour is leading by 10% in the most recent general election poll, which is the highest lead over Conservative since July 2021.

A simple sorry from the Prime Minister is not enough to soothe the hurt feelings and outrage caused by the Partygate scandal. So far, Coronavirus has claimed over 153K lives in the UK. Is this what you expect from a Prime Minister?

The future of Boris Johnson remains unclear, his response to the findings of the long-awaited Sue Gray report will be crucial to whether or not he remains Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative party.

Check out our podcast on the topic - featuring Fact Check Scotland down below!

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