THE FOUNDER January 2022
Downing Street Lockdown Breaches: Is an End to the Party in Sight?
ROBYN SPINK | CONTENT WRITER
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umber 10 has faced recent criticism after claims of numerous parties whilst London was under stringent Covid restrictions. One gathering, and arguably the most controversial, was on 15th May 2020, during the first national lockdown, where Boris Johnson, along with his wife Carrie, the former Health Secretary Matt Hancock, and up to 17 staff, were pictured in the Downing Street garden with wine, cheese, and pizza in what appeared to be a ‘socially distanced’ gathering. This occurred during a time in which England was under strict lockdown measures, including social mixing between households being limited to two people outdoors, distanced at 2 metres apart. Staff were pictured in larger groups whilst not social distancing, prompting criticism from both the public and politicians, with Labour party deputy leader Angela Rayner describing the alleged event as ‘a slap in the face of the British public’. Dominic Raab, Deputy Prime Minister, responded to criticism by justifying that those pictured were having a drink ‘after the work meetings of the day’ and that no rules were broken.
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Other allegations surrounding the breaking of lockdown rules by politicians include a report that a Christmas party was held in Downing Street on 18th December 2020. Ministers have denied these claims. Despite this, a video later emerged of the thenpress secretary to the Prime Minister Allegra Stratton, joking about the gathering, revealing that it was ‘not socially distanced’. At the time, Downing Street had instructed the public not to have work Christmas gatherings ‘where that is a primarily social activity’.
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