TORY aides “held a SECOND raucous party” during lockdown and Downing Street staff also “held a quiz night,” it’s emerged.
Around 25 people danced and drank wine late into the night at the event in the basement of the Conservative HQ in Westminster.
A separate Christmas quiz was also held around the same time for senior No10 aides with Johnson’s incoming chief of staff Dan Rosenfield said to have taken part.
It comes amid fury among Tory MPs over an event held in No 10 on December 18 last year which saw the PM’s spokeswoman Allegra Stratton resign after a leaked video showed her laughing about the event.
The event organised by former Tory candidate for Mayor of London Shaun Bailey’s campaign team was held on December 14, sources said.
People were said to have worn festive hats and he received a Lego set as a Christmas present from a donor.
Revellers damaged a door and staff were disciplined at the bash which took place while London was in Tier 2 – banning socialising indoors between households.
Hours earlier Matt Hancock, then health secretary, gave a press conference announcing that the capital would move into Tier 3.
Around the same time, a Christmas quiz was held for officials working for the PM.
One source said that the quiz took place in the “control centre” established at 70 Whitehall by Dominic Cummings.
Downing Street sources said that the quiz was “entirely virtual”. They conceded that some might have taken part from their desks in communal offices.
A Conservative spokesman last night confirmed the “unauthorised social gathering in the basement of Matthew Parker Street” and said that “formal disciplinary action was taken against the four CCHQ staff who were seconded to the Bailey campaign”.
This comes as the Met Police said they WON’T be probing the Downing Street Christmas Party which allegedly happened last year.
The force said tonight it won’t investigate the lockdown party allegations due to an “absence of evidence” and their policy to not probe “historic breaches of Covid regulations.”
SECRET SANTA
Boris’ top aide Allegra Stratton resigned in tears just hours after bombshell footage showed her laughing about a lockdown-busting Christmas party at No10.
The PM earlier said he was “sickened” by the leaked video of his senior advisers joking about the alleged illegal gathering last year.
In the Commons, Mr Johnson said the video leaked to ITV made him “furious” and launched an investigation into the December 18 party.
He said Downing St staff could face “disciplinary action” but said he’s been assured no Covid rules were broken.
Now, the Met Police’s statement means that there will be no criminal action taken either.
Before any of the action, ex-journalist Ms Stratton, 41, announced she was leaving the government and offered her resignation the PM.
