By Lucy Caulkett-
Dominic Cummings has raised the heat in the unfolding drama over a leaked video featuring a christmas party in Downing Street last year, by alleging that a separate Downing Street flat party took place at the flat of Boris Johnson on 13 November.
At the time, England was in the midst of a second Covid lockdown, and the claimed party occured a month before the xmas party which appeared in the leaked video circulated in the media yesterday.
The claim from the prime minister’s former adviser comes after the prime minister ordered an investigation by the cabinet secretary — the most senior servant — into a separate party held before Christmas after footage emerged of No 10 staff joking about the event.
Posting on social media, Mr Cummings, the former senior adviser said: “Will the CABSEC [cabinet secretary] also be asked to investigate the *flat* party on Fri 13 Nov, the other flat parties, & the flat’s ‘bubble’ policy…”.
The date identified by Mr Cummings was the same day he left Downing Street with immediate effect after losing a power struggle and just eight days after the prime minister imposed England’s second national lockdown in response to surging Covid rates.
Asked by the Labour MP Catherine West whether there was a Downing Street party on 13 November during prime minister’s questions, Mr Johnson replied on Wednesday: “Mr Speaker, no, but I’m sure that whatever happened the guidance was followed at all times”.
Mr Cummings also suggested the possible introduction of “plan B” Covid measures at a press conference later on Wednesday was to distract from the leaked video showing No 10 officials laughing about a banned Christmas party last December.
Addressing the incident in the Commons at prime minister’s questions, Mr Johnson apologised for the “offence” caused by the footage published by ITV News and claimed he shared the “anger of No 10 staff making light of lockdown measures”.
“I was also furious to see that clip, I apologise unreservedly for the offence it has caused up and down the country and the impression it gives,” Mr Johnson said.
Downing Street later said it hopes the cabinet secretary’s investigation into the events of December 18, following allegations of a No 10 staff Christmas party, would be finalised “as soon as possible”.
“That will be an independent process carried out by Cabinet Office staff, under the leadership of the cabinet secretary,” the prime minister’s spokesperson told reporters.
Pressed on how long the probe is likely to take, they added: “It is obviously rightly for them to dictate the timescale. I don’t have a set period but obviously we want it to be as soon as possible.”