New footage shows government officials drinking, dancing and mocking lockdown rules, as the ongoing ‘partygate’ scandal allegedly unfolded Sunday under draconian pandemic lockdown measures aroused new criticism.
During a party allegedly held at the Conservative Party election headquarters in London in December 2020, two partygoers were spotted dancing past a sign telling them to “keep your distance”. got the video. mirror showed that.
EXCLUSIVE: First-ever partygate video shows Conservatives drinking, dancing and laughing around COVID-19 rulespic.twitter.com/vIHbuIqWWf
— The Mirror (@DailyMirror) June 17, 2023
While the UK has banned family gatherings during the holiday season, the campaign team of then-London mayoral candidate Sean Bailey organized a party and huddled around the buffet table, according to a video provided by The Mirror. Some guests even made jokes about guests coming in and breaking the rules. (Related: ‘No one warned me’: UK PM denies political parties were violating lockdown rules)
Housing Secretary Michael Gove apologized for the video, saying it was “indefensible,” according to the Times. BBC. Two of the more than 20 guests in attendance were among those honored in the resignation of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, The Mirror reported.
The video was released when former Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently announced he was leaving parliament following the release of the Partygate report. The report found the former leader was hosting a party during the COVID-19 pandemic as the government implemented a strict lockdown across the country. Johnson faced pressure to resign after admitting to misleading Congress while giving evidence about his crimes.
“The ranters openly mocked the rules followed by the British public.” Said New Labor Deputy Leader Angela Reiner in 2021 video. “Conservatives think this is the rule for them and for others.”
A November 2022 Metropolitan Police investigation cited by The Mirror found that previously released photos of the incident were insufficient to determine that a crime had been committed. A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said: “We are aware of the footage and are considering it.” said Sunday.
