Aide quits over Downing Street party ‘joke’

Boris Johnson has apologised and a senior aide has quit over footage showing Number 10 advisors joking about a Downing Street Christmas party during the coronavirus lockdown.
By The Newsroom
Published 9th Dec 2021, 08:08 GMT
Allegra Stratton speaking outside her home in north London where she announced that she has resigned as an adviser to Boris Johnson and offered her "profound apologies" after footage emerged of her when she was the Prime Minister's spokeswoman at a mock news conference apparently showing Downing Street aides joking about a Christmas party held during last year's lockdown. Picture date: Wednesday December 8, 2021.Allegra Stratton speaking outside her home in north London where she announced that she has resigned as an adviser to Boris Johnson and offered her "profound apologies" after footage emerged of her when she was the Prime Minister's spokeswoman at a mock news conference apparently showing Downing Street aides joking about a Christmas party held during last year's lockdown. Picture date: Wednesday December 8, 2021.
Allegra Stratton speaking outside her home in north London where she announced that she has resigned as an adviser to Boris Johnson and offered her "profound apologies" after footage emerged of her when she was the Prime Minister's spokeswoman at a mock news conference apparently showing Downing Street aides joking about a Christmas party held during last year's lockdown. Picture date: Wednesday December 8, 2021.

The prime minister has ordered an investigation into claims staff broke lockdown rules by holding a Christmas party last year and told MPs he was “furious” about the footage apparently showing aides laughing about it.

Allegra Stratton, who was the prime minister’s spokeswoman, resigned after the leaked clip emerged, offering “profound apologies” and saying she would “regret those remarks for the rest of my days”.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The prime minister has repeatedly insisted that rules were followed in Downing Street since the claims first emerged about the December 18 2020 party.

However, at Prime Minister’s Questions in the Commons he said he based that position on assurances from junior staff.

Mr Johnson said he had asked Cabinet Secretary Simon Case “to establish all the facts and to report back as soon as possible – and it goes without saying that if those rules were broken then there will be disciplinary action for all those involved”.

At Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr Johnson said: “I understand and share the anger up and down the country at seeing No 10 staff seeming to make light of lockdown measures, and I can understand how infuriating it must be to think that people who have been setting the rules have not been following the rules because I was also furious to see that clip.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I apologise unreservedly for the offence that it has caused up and down the country, and I apologise for the impression that it gives.”

In a tearful statement outside her home, Ms Stratton apologised for her appearance in footage recorded just days after the alleged party.

She had been taking part in a mock press conference in preparation for the planned White House-style televised briefings she would front – a project which was ultimately abandoned.

In the footage obtained by ITV News, Ms Stratton and adviser Ed Oldfield, along with other aides, were filmed joking about a “fictional” Downing Street party.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Her appearance in the briefing room was in stark contrast to her emotional statement yesterday, where she told reporters: “My remarks seemed to make light of the rules, rules that people were doing everything to obey.

“That was never my intention. I will regret those remarks for the rest of my days and I offer my profound apologies to all of you at home for them.”

Related topics:Boris JohnsonDowning StreetSimon CasePrime MinisterQuestions