No 10 inquiry head accused of hosting own party last December | Coronavirus

The country’s leading civil servant investigating claims of lockdown-breaking parties inside Downing Street last year has been accused of also hosting a drinks party last December, prompting Labour to question if his judgment will be fair and independent.

According to a series of reports, Simon Case, the cabinet secretary, whose inquiry into the No 10 parties is due next week, had drinks for up to 20 staff in his Whitehall offices on 17 December last year.

This was a day before an alleged Christmas party inside Downing Street, the circumstances of which Case is investigating. At the time, all indoor social mixing was prohibited under coronavirus regulations.

According to a joint report by Politico and the Independent, Case mingled with staff in his office and in an outside waiting room, carrying a glass himself. The event, described as “a piss-up”, also allegedly featured snacks and Christmas decorations.

According to a separate report in the Times, the event was listed in invitations sent to online calendars as “Christmas party!” The Guido Fawkes website, which first reported the claims, said there were allegations of two separate events around the same period.

Labour’s deputy leader, Angela Rayner, said the claims made it uncertain whether Case could properly look into the alleged party on 18 December, as well as another alleged event at Downing Street on 27 November, and reports of a party at the Department for Education.

“Labour made it clear when the investigation was launched that the person in charge should be uncompromised and able to make a fair and independent judgement,” she said. “These fresh revelations put that into question.

“Boris Johnson as prime minister has set the tone for the civil service and the rest of government. With each new revelation there is growing evidence of a culture of turning a blind eye to the rules.”

The Cabinet Office told Politico the claims were “categorically untrue” but did not immediately respond to a Guardian request for comment.

The claims about Case come a day after a joint investigation by the Guardian and Independent was told that Johnson joined No 10 staff during the first lockdown in May last year, raising questions about a possible longer-term culture of flouting Covid rules.

The prime minister allegedly spent about 15 minutes with staff at the alleged social gathering on 15 May 2020, telling one aide inside No 10 that they deserved a drink for “beating back” coronavirus.

Sources claimed about 20 staff drank wine and spirits and ate pizza following a press conference on that day, some in offices inside No 10 and others going into the garden. Some staff stayed drinking until late into the evening, they alleged.

Source link

The post No 10 inquiry head accused of hosting own party last December | Coronavirus appeared first on Chop News.

from Chop News https://ift.tt/3Ea9K1I