Dozens in North East died on days Number 10 held parties during Covid lockdown

Today, the Prime Minister is facing significant backlash after the damning findings of the long-awaited Sue Gray report were made public.

From confirmation that senior members of the Government attended events that breach Covid rules to "unacceptable" treatment of staff during such events.

Read more: Conclusions in Sue Gray’s report on the partygate saga

The report, which was made public this afternoon, has led to Boris Johnson saying he "accepts full responsibility for my failings" over the partygate scandal.

But figures from Public Health England at the time have revealed the death toll in the North East on the days that parties were held while Brits were in lockdown.

Here are just some of the 'key' parties.

December 17, 2020

It was reported that the do had been organised by a private secretary in Cabinet Secretary Simon Case's team, and that it was noted in digital calendars as “Christmas party!” and included an online quiz.

A total of 21 people in the North East died on that day with Covid being recorded on their death certificate. The overall death roll for our region was 3,828.

November 13, 2020 

Downing Street partygate

Damning pictures showing Boris Johnson with a drink in his hand recently emerged as press office staff and media special advisers were said to be marking the departure of communications director Lee Cain.

Read more: Pictures show Boris Johnson raising glass during lockdown leaving party

Eight days earlier, Mr Johnson had imposed England’s second national lockdown, which lasted four weeks. People were banned from social mixing, other than to meet one person outside.

On that day, the North East saw 28 lives lost due to Covid and the death toll had reached 2,971 since the beginning of the pandemic.

June 19, 2020

The Sue Gray report contains the details of a gathering in Number 10 and the Cabinet Office at 70 Whitehall for the departure of an official.

There had been reports that sandwiches, drinks and beer had been laid out on a table as a surprise for Boris Johnson.

In the North East, two people had died from Covid according to figures the day after, but the region's Covid death toll had hit 2,094.

May 15, 2020 

Downing Street staff and Boris Johnson were pictured drinking wine and eating cheese in a "garden party" at Number 10.

In the North East, figures from that day showed a total of 21 lives were lost with Covid being mentioned on their death certificate.

At this point, the death toll in the region had reached a staggering 1,728 since the Covid pandemic began.

This afternoon, pressure mounted on Boris Johnson to resign amid the scandal with one North East MP asking how he can sleep with "so much blood on his filthy hands" in the House of Commons.

Middlesbrough MP, Andy McDonald, stood in the House of Commons today and stressed that the Prime Minister is “laughing in our faces.”

The Prime Minister said: “From furlough onwards everything we have done since the pandemic began has been to get money into the pockets of the working people of this country, and those are the people time and again that we have prioritised.

“I do not for a moment doubt that things are tough… but it is our intention to get this country through it, and we will get through it very well by putting our arms around people as we can, and as we will because of the fiscal firepower that we have, but also by making sure that we continue with the high wage, high skill, high employment economy.”

Where can I read the Sue Gray report?

The full report is available to review on the government website.

To download the full report, head to the government website.