A picture showing Tory aides at a Christmas party thrown during coronavirus restrictions has emerged.
The Daily Mirror has published an image showing 24 people crowded together at a Christmas party at the Conservative Party’s headquarters.
Included in the image is top Tory Shaun Bailey, former Conservative London Mayoral candidate.
The Daily Mirror reports that the event was organised by Bailey’s mayoral campaign and took place on December 14 when London was in Tier 2 restrictions.
Shaun Bailey quits as Christmas party image emerges
After he was approached by the Daily Mirror about the image, Mr Bailey quit his role as chair of the London Assembly’s police and crime committee.
A statement read: “Shaun Bailey AM has today stood aside as chairman of the London Assembly’s Police and Crime Committee.
“He does not want an unauthorised social gathering involving some former members of the London mayoral campaign team last December to distract from the committee’s important work holding the Mayor of London to account.
“He will continue to speak up for Londoners who no longer feel safe in our city and push for a strategy to tackle the disproportionate level of crime in London’s black community.”
Also in the image are billionaire Tory donor Nick Candy and a senior figure in Boris Johnson’s leadership election campaign.
Conservative Party admit Covid Christmas party took place
Last week, the Conservative Party acknowledged that a gathering took place at its headquarters while the rest of the country was under coronavirus regulations.
Following a report in the Times, a Tory spokesman said: “Senior CCHQ (Conservative Campaign Headquarters) staff became aware of an unauthorised social gathering in the basement of Matthew Parker Street organised by the Bailey campaign on the evening of December 14.
“Formal disciplinary action was taken against the four CCHQ staff who were seconded to the Bailey campaign.”
Downing Street Christmas party
A Westminster investigation is ongoing into multiple illegal gatherings that allegedly took place in Downing Street last year.
No 10 staff who stayed in Downing Street to take part in a Christmas quiz were told to “go out the back”, it has been alleged.
The Daily Mirror reported that the quiz on December 15 – which the Prime Minister helped to host – had been held virtually, but with many taking part from the office.
No 10 previously said that Downing Street staff were “often required to be in the office to work on the pandemic response” during the various lockdowns.
And therefore “those who were in the office for work may have attended virtually from their desks”.
But the Mirror said a message sent by No 10’s head of HR on the night advised that those who had stayed behind to take part “go out the back” when they left.
A Government spokesperson said: “Given there is an ongoing review, it would be inappropriate to comment while that is ongoing.”
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