No 10 refuses to say it will investigate alleged November lockdown party

When asked “What did the PM do to be assured?” that no rules were broken, the No 10 spokesperson said that Cabinet Secretary Simon Case will be “Asked to establish facts on the 18th December,” but the spokesperson have no timescale for the probe.

This comes after Mr Johnson told PMQs that he has requested that the Cabinet Secretary conducts an inquiry in the December bash.

The spokesman went on to say that the “Prime minister” was  “shocked at the video” but no mention of the party was made.

There was no clarification offered by the spokesperson on why a No 10 staff leaving party alleged to have been held during national lockdown on 27 November, is not being investigated. The Daily Mirror has speculated that PM attended this gathering.

When asked if Mr Case was himself present at the 18 December party, the No 10 spokesperson responded that the inquiry was an “independent process”.

In April 2021, Allegra Stratton was appointed as the Prime Minister’s spokesperson for the COP26 conference on global climate change to be held in Glasgow in November in 2021.

This marks a shift from Johnson’s claim just earlier today that there was no party, to a line stating that all guidance was followed.

“I’m not going to get into internal disciplinary matters”, he said when asked if there would be consequences for the leaked video, and denied the PM was aware of it before yesterday’s leak.

When asked if the PM was in attendance at the alleged 18th gathering, his spokesperson said the PM was “working all night”.

A Downing Street staff quiz which the spokesperson said was “virtual” in December 2020 is also not being investigated.

The Spokesperson did not confirm or deny whether they were at the party.