Inside Politics: PM announces Covid Plan B as anger mounts over Downing Street parties

Fresh reports of Downing Street parties during lockdown as Johnson announces investigation into 18 December bash - but continues to insist that no rules were broken, writes Matt Mathers

(PA)

Everybody in Westminster seems to know about the party in No 10 in December last year, apart from the man who lives at the top of the building. Boris Johnson stood at the despatch box yesterday to once again deliver a non-denial denial, convincing absolutely nobody that the festive shindig didn’t take place, not least the former leader of his party in Scotland, Ruth Davidson. The Tory peer described the PM’s statement to the Commons – and his announcement that the cabinet secretary will investigate the reports – as “pathetic”. “As a Tory, I was brought up to believe in playing with a straight bat,” she said. “Believe me, colleagues are furious at this, too.” The view inside No 10 appears to be that if they announce a probe, anger and frustration will eventually subside over time and they will get away with it. Were the Covid Plan B measures set out later a diversionary tactic to distract attention away from the scandal? That was the view of Tory MP William Wragg, who said as much in the chamber. It’s certainly true that all the early indications showed omicron was very likely to be more transmissible than delta, which is ultimately why the measures are being brought in. Labour says the government has left it too late, with the new strain already spreading rapidly throughout the country. The Downing Street nightmare before Christmas claimed its first victim in Allegra Stratton, Johnson’s former press secretary, who quit offering her “profound apologies” after a video showed her laughing about a party in a mock press conference. There was palpable anger on all sides of the Commons yesterday over the reports. The story again dominates the front of several news outlets this morning, with fresh reports of more shindigs. You wouldn’t bet against another scalp by the time this is all over.

Inside the bubble

The Commons sits from 9.30am with DEFRA questions followed by any UQs. After Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the House, gives the weekly business statement and any other ministerial department statements.

Coming up:

– Health secretary Sajid Javid on BBC Radio 4 Today at 8.10am

– Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner on talkRADIO at 8.50am

Daily Briefing

LIVE FOR YOU, DIE FOR YOU: In his statement yesterday the PM apologised for the video of his aides laughing about the party – the one that ultimately resulted in Stratton’s exit – but there was no acknowledgement of, or apology for, the party actually taking place, which is why so many MPs are incredibly frustrated. Johnson is under growing pressure from his own side to come clean, with senior Tories warning that the blow to public trust in the government from the scandal could hit compliance with public health measures. Douglas Ross, the Conservative leader in Scotland, suggested that Johnson may have to quit as PM if it is proved that he misled parliament over what he knew about the event.

IT’S NOT OVER YET: Labour, meanwhile, has criticised the Metropolitan Police’s decision not to investigate reports of lockdown-busting parties. Wes Streeting, the new shadow health secretary who is calling on Tories to oust Johnson, said it was “simply implausible for the police to argue there is no evidence parties took place. “We have all seen the video involving No 10 staff referring to the party on 18 December,” he added. There are reports of at least three other parties taking place in Downing Street during Covid restrictions during the rounds, one of which makes the front of this morning’s Times. The paper says “Tory aides threw a raucous Christmas party and senior Downing Street staff held a quiz night” on another date in December. The Conservative Party has admitted that a gathering took place. During the event on 14 December, London was under Tier 2 Covid restrictions – which meant that indoor socialising between households was banned. “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 14 December,” a CCHQ spokesperson said. “Formal disciplinary action was taken against the four CCHQ staff who were seconded to the Bailey campaign.”

DO WHAT YOU WANT ME TO? There are serious concerns, too, about how the party reports could affect compliance with new Covid Plan B measures. Sajid Javid, the health secretary, was jeered by a section of lockdown-sceptic Conservative MPs as he set out the measures in parliament yesterday. From next week, mandatory mask-wearing will be extended to indoor public venues including cinemas, theatres and places of worship from Friday, but will not be required in pubs and restaurants, while guidance to work from home where possible will return on Monday (although people are still being encouraged to go to their Christmas parties). The NHS Covid pass, which can be obtained by having two vaccines or a negative lateral flow test, will be introduced for entry into nightclubs and other large venues from 15 December, as Johnson set out the “proportionate and responsible” measures.

TORY FURY: But some Tory MPs are furious at the new rules. Shouts of “what a load of old tripe” and “rubbish” could be heard from the backbenches during Javid’s speech while Wragg called for his resignation. There is likely to be significant Tory rebellion when the measures are voted on next Tuesday, although Plan B will pass with Labour’s support. The new restrictions were announced as experts warned the true number of UK omicron cases is “likely to be 10,000 and could hit one million by end of year.” Pandemic updates throughout the day here.

LEGAL BASIS: Priti Patel’s claims that there is a “legal basis” for forcing migrant boats back to France have been called into question by peers. The House of Lords Justice and Home Affairs Committee said it was “not convinced” the plans were safe or lawful, as a law that would grant Border Force staff legal immunity over refugee deaths passes through parliament. In a letter sent to the home secretary on Wednesday, committee chair Baroness Hamwee said the recent deaths of at least 27 asylum seekers in the Channel “starkly demonstrate” the risks at stake.“We are not convinced, as yet, that having a policy where boats can be ‘turned around’ is safe and/or lawful,” she added.“We are not aware that the government have published any arguments to substantiate the claim that a legal basis currently exists.”

On the record

“But I repeat that I have been repeatedly assured since these allegations emerged that there was no party and that no Covid rules were broken, and that is what I have been repeatedly assured.”

PM on No 10 party reports.

From the Twitterati

“Tory source: ‘I haven’t seen the WhatsApp groups as angry as this since Barnard Castle, real exasperation all round. Disbelief that blundering Boris has bollocked it up yet again.’”

A Tory source tells Daily Mirror senior politics correspondent of anger inside their party.

Essential reading

• Hannah Fearn, The Independent: I gave birth alone while Downing Street partied – like all who suffered in lockdown, I’m furious
• John Rentoul, The Independent: Boris Johnson’s full apology: sorry, not sorry, nothing to do with me
• Zoe Williams, The Guardian: Cruel ministers have made citizenship a tool of dirty politics
• David Brooks, The Atlantic: What happened to American conservatism?

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