Tory minister says Boris Johnson’s Christmas quiz wasn’t party because there was ‘no alcohol’

Nadhim Zahawi has suggested that Boris Johnson’s Christmas quiz didn't break lockdown rules.

The prime minister is facing questions over whether he breached laws after pictures emerged of him hosting a festive quiz in Downing Street last December when London was under tier 2 restrictions.

While the images have caused outrage amid the Christmas party scandal, Zahawi has suggested no rules were broken because "no alcohol" was consumed.

"He’s on a virtual call, no alcohol, thanking his staff for 10 minutes before he goes back to work, is that really a terrible crime?" the minister asked.

Sign up to our newsletters here.