Despite indoor socialising being banned under lockdown rules, it's been reported that the Prime Minister encouraged aides to ‘let off steam’.
Downing Street staff held ‘wine-time Fridays’ throughout the pandemic with Boris Johnson witnessing the gatherings regularly, it has been reported.that the Prime Minister encouraged aides to ‘let off steam’, despite indoor socialising being banned under lockdown rules.
The event was so popular that staff are said to have invested in a £142 drinks fridge to keep their wine, Prosecco and beer cool. An extraordinary picture published in the Mirror appears to show the chiller being delivered through the back door of Downing Street. The paper says this happened on December 11, 2020 – when rules banned two or more people from different households meeting indoors, unless ‘reasonably necessary’ for work purposes. Aides allegedly took turns on Fridays to visit the local Tesco Metro in Westminster with a wheely suitcase to fill up the 34-bottle capacity fridge. The stunning revelations come after Downing Street apologised to Buckingham Palace for holding two more parties in No10 the day before Prince Philip’s funeral last Spring. Number 10 did not deny the claims but pointed to the ongoing Whitehall investigation into multiple allegations of Covid rule breaches in Downing Street and other government buildings during the course of the pandemic. According to the Mirror’s bombshell report, wine-time Fridays’ were scheduled into the electronic calendars of around 50 No 10 staff between 4pm and 7pm every week. The event was so popular that staff are said to have invested in a £142 drinks fridge to keep their wine, Prosecco and beer cool They were a tradition before the pandemic, but continued throughout it even when restrictions banned people from mixing, it is claimed. Sources went into detail about the events, reportedly telling the Mirror that the gatherings sometimes went on as late as midnight with up to two dozen aides drinking wine and beer and playing games like Pictionary. The PM was said to have attended a ‘handful’ of the gatherings at points when indoor socialising was banned under lockdown rules.‘It was on the way up to his flat and the door was usually open. He knew about it and encouraged it.’Another added: ‘The idea that he didn’t know there were drinks is total nonsense. If the PM tells you to “let off steam”, he’s basically saying “this is fine”.’Mr Johnson is said to be plotting an overhaul at No 10 in order to keep his job as his future hangs in the balance. The plan – reportedly dubbed ‘Operation Save Big Dog’ by the Prime Minister himself – includes drawing up a list of officials he wants to quit over the partygate scandal.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Downing Street staff 'partied as Queen grieved alone'Government advisers and civil servants drank large amounts of alcohol and danced in No10's basement and gardens after work on Friday, April 16, 2021.
Read more »
Staffer at No 10 basement party 'sent to Co-op with suitcase to fill with wine'Downing Street staff who partied the night away at Number 10 during lockdown sent one reveller out with a suitcase to fetch more bottles of wine.
Read more »
UK economy back above pre-pandemic levelsEconomic output exceeded pre-pandemic levels for the first time in November, fuelled by strong growth in construction before the Omicron variant took hold.Gross
Read more »
Wine fridge smuggled into No10 that staff kept stocked from Tesco Express dashesStaff attending regular 'wine-time Fridays' throughout the pandemic invested in the £142 chiller to keep their bottles of white wine, Prosecco and beer cool
Read more »
Inside No10 'wine time' Fridays - boxing gloves and breaking Wilfred's swingSources said the 'wine time' Friday gatherings on occasion went on as late as midnight with up to two dozen aides drinking wine and beer and playing games like Pictionary
Read more »