London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, May 31, 2025

Partygate: 12 events that were under police investigation

Partygate: 12 events that were under police investigation

Fines have been issued in relation to at least eight of the 12 events for breaches of Covid restrictions

Fines have been issued in relation to at least eight of the 12 events across Whitehall that have been under police investigation. Scotland Yard has identified a range of events breaching restrictions under 2020 pandemic legislation, and in some cases confirmed that fixed-penalty notices had been issued.

20 May 2020: ‘bring your own booze’ party


A leaked email from the prime minister’s principal private secretary, Martin Reynolds, showed No 10 staff were invited to “bring your own booze” to an event in the Downing Street garden. Boris Johnson admitted he was there for 25 minutes and said he thought it was a “work event” to thank staff for their efforts during the pandemic.

18 June 2020: Cabinet Office leaving do


A gathering took place in the 70 Whitehall building to mark the departure of a private secretary, Hannah Young. The government’s former ethics chief Helen MacNamara, who now works for the Premier League, has apologised for her “error of judgment” after she was fined.

19 June 2020: Boris Johnson’s 56th birthday


Downing Street has said staff “gathered briefly” in the Cabinet Room in what was reportedly a surprise get-together for the prime minister organised by his then fiancee, Carrie, now his wife. No 10 denied a report that later the same evening family and friends were hosted upstairs to celebrate the occasion.

Johnson, his wife and the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, all received fines, it has been confirmed. Johnson became the UK’s first serving prime minister to be sanctioned for breaking the law.

13 November 2020: Downing Street flat do


Carrie Johnson reportedly hosted parties in the official flat over No 11 where she and the prime minister, including one event on 13 November, the night of Dominic Cummings’s acrimonious departure.

13 November 2020: leaving party for senior aide


Johnson was reported to have given a leaving speech for Lee Cain, his departing director of communications and a close ally of Cummings. The Met has confirmed penalties were issued in connection with this date but has not clarified whether they were over the flat gathering or the leaving do.

17 December 2020: Cabinet Office ‘Christmas party’


The cabinet secretary, Simon Case, removed himself from the inquiry into parties – to be replaced by Sue Gray – after reports emerged of a gathering in the Cabinet Office.

It has been reported that the do was organised by a private secretary in Case’s team. The Cabinet Office said Case played no part in the event, “but walked through the team’s office on the way to his own office”.

17 December 2020: leaving drinks for former Covid taskforce head


Leaving drinks were held in the Cabinet Office for the former director general of the government’s Covid taskforce Kate Josephs, who went on to become chief executive of Sheffield city council.

17 December 2020: No 10 leaving do


A leaving do for a departing Downing Street official took place at No 10. The Met has not clarified which event resulted in fines but Josephs has said she was “truly sorry” over the leaving drinks held in the Cabinet Office.

18 December 2020: Downing Street Christmas party


Officials and advisers reportedly made speeches, enjoyed a cheese board, drank together and exchanged Secret Santa gifts, although the prime minister is not thought to have attended. Johnson’s spokesperson, Allegra Stratton, resigned after a video emerged of her joking about a “fictional party” at a mock press conference.

14 January 2021: more Downing Street leaving drinks


A gathering in No 10 on the departure of two private secretaries. The police investigation related to a suspected breach of restrictions on participating in an indoor gathering of two or more people in a tier 4 area.

16 April 2021: leaving drinks for the outgoing communications director James Slack


One of two leaving dos held on the night before the Queen sat alone at Prince Philip’s funeral. Slack, who left Downing Street to become deputy editor of the Sun, has apologised for the “anger and hurt” caused.

16 April 2021: leaving do for another departing Downing Street official


This is another event, separate to Slack’s leaving do, that took place at a Whitehall location. Johnson is not reported to have been present. This was a suspected breach of a restriction on participating in an outdoor gathering consisting of more than six people.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
Italy Faces Population Decline Amid Youth Emigration
U.S. Goods Imports Plunge Nearly 20% Amid Tariff Disruptions
OpenAI Faces Competition from Cheaper AI Rivals
Foreign Tax Provision in U.S. Budget Bill Alarms Investors
Trump Accuses China of Violating Trade Agreement
Gerry Adams Wins Libel Case Against BBC
Russia Accuses Serbia of Supplying Arms to Ukraine
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
Chinese Woman Dies After Being Forced to Visit Bank Despite Critical Illness
President Trump Grants Full Pardons to Reality TV Stars Todd and Julie Chrisley
Texas Enacts App Store Accountability Act Mandating Age Verification
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Vatican Calls for Sustainable Tourism in 2025 Message
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Trump Threatens 25% Tariff on iPhones Amid Dispute with Apple CEO
Putin's Helicopter Reportedly Targeted by Ukrainian Drones
Liverpool Car Ramming Incident Leaves Multiple Injured
Australia Faces Immigration Debate Following Labor Party Victory
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
Macron Dismisses Viral Video of Wife's Gesture as Playful Banter
Cleveland Clinic Study Questions Effectiveness of Recent Flu Vaccine
Netanyahu Accuses Starmer of Siding with Hamas
Junior Doctors Threaten Strike Over 4% Pay Offer
Labour MPs Urge Chancellor to Tax Wealthy Over Cutting Welfare
Publication of UK Child Poverty Strategy Delayed Until Autumn
France Detains UK Fishing Vessel Amid Post-Brexit Tensions
Calls Grow to Resume Syrian Asylum Claims in UK
Nigel Farage Pledges to Reinstate Winter Fuel Payments
Boris and Carrie Johnson Welcome Daughter Poppy
×