‘Terrible, out of order’: UK minister ‘sorry’ for lockdown-breaking party video

The video, which shows members of staff dancing and drinking at a Christmas party, was published in the Mirror newspaper. The event was arranged by the campaign team of Shaun Bailey, the London mayoral candidate who was unsuccessful in his bid. He left the party before the video was recorded.

The 45-second clip shows staff in a gathering drinking alcohol in December 2020 when the British public in London was banned from socialising indoors to help contain the spread of Covid-19. Two of those at the gathering, which had previously been investigated by police when a still photo of it emerged, were given honours by Boris Johnson in his resignation list earlier this month.

This comes a day after a parliamentary committee ruled that former Prime Minister Boris Johnson had wilfully misled lawmakers about rule-breaking lockdown parties at his office.

Speaking about the party, Michael Gove said, “It is terrible,” adding, “I think it’s completely out of order. I just want to apologise to everyone really.”

The Covid rules breakdown was one of the reasons Boris Johnson was brought down as the prime minister. The issue still hangs over the Conservative Party and incumbent PM Rishi Sunak.

Boris Johnson stepped down as a member of Parliament on June 9, days before the privileges committee – the main disciplinary body for lawmakers – issued its damning verdict on him, re-opening divisions in the party and re-igniting public anger.

Polls suggest the Conservatives, in power since 2010, are trailing the opposition Labour party by about 20% percentage points. The next election must be held by late 2024.

(With agency inputs)

Updated: 18 Jun 2023, 07:27 PM IST