There is no festive atmosphere in Downing Street – it is one of fear

The case for the defence is getting harder to make as revelations from a year ago keep coming, making it more likely Boris Johnson will fall victim to a thousand cuts, writes Andrew Grice

Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street (AP)

For several days, rumours swirled around Westminster that photos of the party or parties held at Downing Street just before last Christmas would soon emerge in the media. Now the Sunday Mirror has duly revealed a picture of Boris Johnson hosting an online quiz with some of his staff.

It could have been worse: if, for example, the prime minister had been captured with a glass in his hand or, like two aides pictured – one draped in tinsel and another in a Christmas hat. According to the Mirror, many staff “huddled by computers, conferring on questions and knocking back fizz, wine and beer from a local Tesco Metro”.

For Keir Starmer, it was bad enough. Johnson loves to mock him as an out of touch north London leftie lawyer but on this occasion the former director of public prosecutions has exactly the right credentials to pass judgement on him. “It is very hard to see how that is compliant with the rules,” Starmer told the BBC’s Andrew Marr. That means the law; at the time of the quiz on 15 December, the rules for London said there should be no mixing of households indoors and official guidance ruled out work lunches or parties “where that is a primarily social activity” not exempted for “work purposes”.

In isolation, the virtual quiz might not be a big deal. But after reports that several parties took place and three events are being investigated by Simon Case, the cabinet secretary, it reinforces the impression of a Downing Street which thought it was above the rules it had imposed on the public, often with heart-breaking consequences last Christmas.

A Number 10 spokesperson said: “This was a virtual quiz. Downing Street staff were often required to be in the office to work on the pandemic response so those who were in the office for work may have attended virtually from their desks. The prime minister briefly took part virtually in a quiz to thank staff for their hard work throughout the year.”

Yet the case for the defence is getting harder to make as revelations from a year ago keep coming, compounding Johnson’s problems and making it more likely he will fall victim to a thousand cuts. As we have known since the Watergate scandal, the cover-up is usually worse than the crime. The incompetent handling of “partygate,” with Johnson naively hoping he would again get away with it instead of coming clean quickly, has encouraged furious Tory MPs to give him a bloody nose by opposing new Covid restrictions in a Commons vote on Tuesday. That they will be approved thanks to Labour’s support will be cold comfort for Johnson.

There is no festive spirit in Downing Street today: the atmosphere is one of fear, as staff wonder whether they will lose their job so the prime minister can keep his. They have not been reassured by the Johnson ally who told The Sunday Times: “Boris is loyal to his people. He doesn’t like firing them just because that’s what the BBC wants.” It’s a shame this mantra did not apply to Allegra Stratton. Although Johnson apparently turned down an offer to resign by Jack Doyle, his director of communications, who was at the 18 December party, the suspicion among some colleagues is that he too will be sacrificed after Case reports.

But that might not be the end of the matter. Johnson cannot assume the quiz photo will be the last party pic to emerge; others almost certainly exist. A prime minister who promised to “take back control” is now at the mercy of events way beyond his control.