No 10 lockdown parties: 14 times the government allegedly broke the rules

Here’s a list to keep track of all the allegations of rule-breaking, writes Jon Stone

Party flat: No 10 was reportedly the venue for multiple events during the pandemic (EPA)

It can be difficult to keep track of all the alleged parties held at Downing Street and other government departments. Here's a timeline of the main ones claimed to have happened:

15 May 2020

Boris Johnson, his wife Carrie, Dominic Cummings and Mr Johnson's private secretary Martin Reynolds were all pictured sitting around a table in the No10 garden enjoying cheese and wine. Around 15 others were also in the photograph. The PM claims the gathering was “a meeting of people at work, talking about work”.

20 May 2020

According to a leaked email, Mr Reynolds emailed more than 100 No 10 employees asking them to “bring your own booze” for an evening gathering to enjoy the weather. The prime minister and his wife Carrie reportedly attended.

13 November 2020

Boris Johnson is said to have given a leaving speech at a do for Lee Cain, a senior aide and an ally of Dominic Cummings.

13 November 2020

The prime minister and his then fiance are alleged to have hosted parties in their flat, including on November 13 – the night Mr Cummings left his job. Mr Johnson’s spokesperson has called the claim “total nonsense”.

25 November 2020

A Treasury spokesperson confirmed that a number of staff came into the office during the spending review and had “impromptu drinks around their desks after the event”.

27 November 2020

The prime minister is reported to have given another leaving speech at a gathering in No 10, this time for Cleo Watson, who is also a senior aide and ally of Mr Cummings.

10 December 2020

Former education secretary Gavin Williamson is reported to have thrown a party and given a short speech for staff at his department. A spokesperson has acknowledged that “it would have been better not to have gathered in this way at that particular time”.

11 December 2020

Photographs have emerged of a wine fridge being delivered to No 10 with a capacity for 34 bottles. The fridge was supposedly instrumental in the execution of “wine-time Fridays”, social gatherings held throughout lockdown. The PM is said to have encouraged staff to “let off steam” at the occasions.

14 December 2020

Tory mayor of London candidate Shaun Bailey held a party in the basement of Conservative Party headquarters, replete with buffet. He has apologised “unreservedly” and said it was a “serious error of judgement”.

15 December 2020

The prime minister was pictured taking part in a festive quiz with colleagues, one draped in tinsel. Other colleagues joined via video call.

16 December 2020

The Department for Transport held a party organised by the staff at the office of Grant Shapps. A DfT spokesperson said they recognised the gathering was inappropriate but claimed it was socially distanced.

17 December 2020

The Cabinet Office reportedly had a Christmas party attended by cabinet secretary Simon Case. It was logged in digital calendars as “Christmas party!”. The Cabinet Office said the department’s boss played no part in the event, but “walked through the team’s office on the way to his own office”.

18 December 2020

The original Downing Street lockdown party related to claims of a Christmas party on 18 December. Officials made speeches, drank, exchanged party games and ate cheese. The prime minister’s spokesperson Allegra Stratton quit after being filmed joking about the gathering.

16 April 2021

Advisers and civil servants reportedly held drinks to mark the departure of top aide James Slack. The date was significant because it was the eve of the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral, where the queen was forced to mourn alone because of the rules. A spad is thought to have DJd in the basement for the event, and a swing for Mr and Mrs Johnson’s child is thought to have broken during the course of festivities.