Video Emerges of Tories Mocking COVID Rules at Christmas Party During Pandemic

The headquarters of the Conservative Party is pictured in London on March 16, 2017. Daniel Leal /AFP via Getty Images

Footage has emerged appearing to show Conservative Party staff dancing and mocking COVID-19 rules at a Christmas party held in the party’s headquarters during the height of the pandemic.

In the video, obtained by the Mirror, staff members are seen enjoying festivities wearing paper crowns and clutching alcoholic drinks, while a man and woman hold hands and dance.

One attendee can be heard saying: “As long as we don’t stream that we’re, like, bending the rules.”

At least 24 people were reportedly at the party which took place at Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) in London on Dec. 14, 2020.

Honours for COVID Partygoers

Among the attendees were Shaun Bailey, who received a peerage in former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s resignation honours list last week, and members of his team in his failed campaign to become London mayor.

Conservative candidate Shaun Bailey speaks after Labour's Sadiq Khan was re-elected as London mayor for a second term at the London election count declaration in London on May 8, 2021. Leon Neal/Getty Images

Tory aide Ben Mallett—awarded an OBE on the list—also attended the party and was visible in the video.

At the time, indoor socialising was banned in London under Tier 2 restrictions. People were only allowed to socialise indoors with members of their household or a support bubble.

People who did want to socialise had to do so in a garden or at a pub with outdoor seating, and such gatherings were limited to groups of six people.

The Metropolitan Police launched an investigation after the Daily Mirror published a picture of the gathering, but concluded that the photo by itself was not sufficient evidence to find an offence had been committed.

‘Sickening Insult’

Opposition politicians expressed outrage over the footage.

Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner said: “Revellers at this lockdown Tory booze-up openly mocked the rules the British people followed. The Tories think it’s one rule for them and one rule for everyone else.”

She criticised Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for awarding honours to attendees of the party.

“Instead of forcing them to face the consequences, Rishi Sunak has caved into Boris Johnson’s demands and chosen to reward them with honours. It’s a sickening insult,” she said.

“This prime minister is failing to deliver the integrity he promised and showing he’s too weak to turn the page on 13 years of Tory scandal.”

Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: “Conservative MPs and ministers should be sick to their stomachs seeing this new Partygate footage. While families grieved and NHS staff worked on the front line, Conservative Campaign Headquarters partied.

“What’s worse is the current prime minister granted Boris Johnson’s request to give some of these people honours.

“There are thousands of families out there who deserve an apology for this scandal—Rishi Sunak should give them one immediately.”

‘Indefensible’

A CCHQ spokesman said: “Senior CCHQ staff became aware of an unauthorised social gathering in the basement of Matthew Parker Street organised by the Bailey campaign on the evening of Dec. 14, 2020.

“Formal disciplinary action was taken against the four CCHQ staff who were seconded to the Bailey campaign.”

Appearing on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg show, Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove apologised for the incident.

“On a personal level, I would like to apologise to people for this behaviour. It’s unacceptable and indefensible,” he said.

But he said Bailey and Mallett should keep the honours they had been awarded.

He said: “The decision to confer honours on people was one that was made by Boris Johnson as an outgoing prime minister. Outgoing prime ministers have that right.

“Whether or not they should is a matter of legitimate public debate, but they do at the moment.”

PA Media contributed to this report.