The authorities has confronted intense stress over gatherings held in and round Downing Street throughout Covid lockdowns. Senior civil servant Sue Gray has mentioned that a lot of them “should not have been allowed to take place or to develop in the way that they did.” Here is what we learn about them and the restrictions in place on the time:
A photograph from May 2020 confirmed the prime minister and his employees with bottles of wine and a cheeseboard within the Downing Street backyard. When requested about it, Boris Johnson mentioned “those people were at work talking about work”.
Image copyright by Guardian/Eyevine
The guidelines:
Legal restrictions on the time mentioned you could possibly not depart your own home with no cheap excuse and authorities steerage was that you could possibly meet one particular person outdoors of your family in an out of doors setting whereas exercising.
This occasion is just not being investigated by the police.
About 100 folks had been invited by electronic mail to “socially distanced drinks in the No 10 garden this evening”. Witnesses instructed the BBC the PM and his spouse had been amongst about 30 individuals who attended. Boris Johnson has declined to say whether or not he was amongst these there.
This occasion is being investigated by the police.
A gathering came about within the Cabinet Office to mark the departure of a No 10 non-public secretary.
This occasion is being investigated by the police.
On Boris Johnson’s birthday, up to 30 folks gathered within the Cabinet Room at No 10 to current the prime minister with a birthday cake and sing Happy Birthday, in accordance to a report by ITV News.
No 10 mentioned employees had “gathered briefly” to “wish the prime minister a happy birthday”, adding that he had been there “for less than 10 minutes”.
The guidelines:
Restrictions on the time banned most indoor gatherings involving greater than two folks.
This occasion is being investigated by the police.
Sources instructed the BBC that Downing Street employees members attended a gathering with Carrie Johnson within the flat the place she and the prime minister stay. A spokesman for Mrs Johnson denies the party came about. There was a separate gathering in No 10 Downing Street on the identical day to mark the departure of a particular adviser.
The guidelines:
Eight days earlier Boris Johnson had introduced a brand new lockdown in England. Indoor gatherings with different households had been banned, except they had been for work functions.
These occasions are being investigated by the police.
A leaving occasion was held for No 10 aide, Cleo Watson, the place folks had been ingesting, and Mr Johnson made a speech, in accordance to sources.
This occasion is just not being investigated by the police.
The Department for Education has confirmed it had an workplace gathering to thank employees for his or her work through the pandemic. It says drinks and snacks had been introduced by those that attended and no outdoors company or help employees had been invited.
The guidelines:
Eight days earlier, London had been positioned in restrictions which banned two or extra folks from completely different households from assembly indoors, except “reasonably necessary” for work functions.
This occasion is just not being investigated by the police.
The Conservative Party has admitted that an “unauthorised gathering” came about at its HQ in Westminster. It was held by the workforce of the party’s London-mayoral candidate, Shaun Bailey, who has since stepped down as chair of the London Assembly police and crime committee. The Metropolitan Police is to communicate to two individuals who attended the party.
Image copyright by Daily Mirror
This occasion was not included in Sue Gray’s report.
Multiple sources have instructed the BBC there was a Christmas quiz for No 10 employees final 12 months. A photograph – revealed by the Sunday Mirror – exhibits Boris Johnson participating and sitting between two colleagues in No 10. Mr Johnson has denied any wrongdoing.
Image copyright by Sunday Mirror
This occasion is just not being investigated by the police.
The Department for Transport has apologised after confirming stories of a party in its places of work, calling it “inappropriate” and an “error of judgment” by employees.
The guidelines:
London moved into the very best tier of restrictions and Matt Hancock, who was well being secretary on the time, mentioned it was essential “everyone is cautious” forward of the festive interval.
This occasion was not included in Sue Gray’s report.
A leaving party was held on the Cabinet Office for the outgoing head of the civil service Covid taskforce – the workforce chargeable for drawing up coronavirus restrictions.
Kate Josephs, now chief govt of Sheffield City Council, apologised for the occasion, saying she was “truly sorry that I did this and for the anger that people will feel as a result”.
A second gathering was held within the Cabinet Office to maintain a web-based Christmas quiz for the Cabinet Secretary’s non-public workplace.
A 3rd gathering was held in No 10 Downing Street to mark the departure of a No 10 official
These occasions are being investigated by the police.
Downing Street initially denied a report by the Daily Mirror {that a} party came about in Downing Street. However, a video obtained by ITV News confirmed the prime minister’s then-press secretary Allegra Stratton, joking about stories of an occasion, saying: “This fictional party was a business meeting and it was not socially distanced.”
This occasion is being investigated by the police.
A gathering was held in No 10 Downing Street to mark the departure of two non-public secretaries.
This occasion is being investigated by the police.
Two events had been held by Downing Street employees at No 10, the night time earlier than Prince Philip’s funeral.
One of the occasions was a leaving party for the PM’s then director of communications James Slack, who has apologised for the occasion and acknowledged it “should not have happened at the time that it did”.
Boris Johnson was not at both party.
The guidelines
The guidelines had been eased in England on 12 April, however working from house continued to be really helpful and socialising indoors with folks from different households was not allowed. Meeting others outdoor was restricted to teams of six folks or two households.
These occasions are being investigated by the police.
