Michael Gove today tore into Conservative Party staff filmed partying during lockdown in flagrant defiance of the rules, saying the footage is ‘terrible’ and their actions ‘indefensible’.
Shocking footage shows a Christmas party involving at least 24 revellers at Conservative Campaign Headquarters in London in December 2020.
Two dancing officials are shown twirling each other past signs saying ‘please keep your distance’ and stumbling into a table laden with buffet food. As they do so, other Tory staff members are heard laughing, with one joking that he hopes that they are not exposed for ‘bending the rules.’
The raucous party was organised by the campaign team of the then London Mayor candidate Shaun Bailey, now Lord Bailey.
Speaking to Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday a furious Mr Gove said he hoped all those filmed were ‘contrite’, adding: ‘It is terrible. I think it is completely out of order.
‘I want to apologise to everyone who, looking at that image, will think these are people flouting the rules put in place to protect us all…
‘The fact that this party went ahead is indefensible for the people who were there.’
The Metropolitan Police has previously investigated the event, which took place on December 14 2020, but only had a still image of the partygoers, and Mr Gove declined to tell the force if it should reopen its probe.
Speaking to Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday a furious Mr Gove said he hoped all those filmed were ‘contrite’, adding: ‘It is terrible. I think it is completely out of order.’
Good Lord: London mayor wannabe Shaun Bailey, who was ennobled last week, is seen smiling at the lockdown-mocking party thrown by the team who failed to get him elected
Officers will now assess the new video – raising the prospect that the Conservatives could face yet another highly damaging police partygate probe.
The video, obtained by The Sunday Mirror, is the first time footage has emerged of a rule-breaking party in Westminster.
It shows a karaoke machine with flashing lights, as partygoers joke about how they are breaking the rules.
One man, wearing a brightly coloured Christmas jumper, is seen ballroom dancing with a woman dressed in a red dress.
The unsteady pair bump into a table laden with party food and wine glasses as they spiral around to the sound of The Pogues’ Fairytale of New York.
When one man sees he is being recorded, he says: ‘Oh Christ.’ Then another asks: ‘Are you filming this?’ Someone else responds: ‘Er, it’s for the party use.’
A man then laughs after declaring: ‘As long as we are not streaming that we’re, like, bending the rules.’
One of those captured in the footage is Ben Mallett, a senior Tory aide who was awarded an OBE in former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s resignation honours list.
Holding a glass of red wine and wearing festive braces, Mr Mallett was the Tories’ campaign director for the 2021 London mayoral election. He now runs the campaign of Moz Hossain, who wants to stand in next year’s mayoral race.
In the video one man, wearing a brightly coloured Christmas jumper, is seen ballroom dancing with a woman dressed in a red dress
The video, obtained by The Sunday Mirror, is the first time footage has emerged of a rule-breaking party in Westminster
Just days after the party Mr Johnson announced a raft of tighter restrictions which meant people in the areas worst hit by Covid could not see their loved ones over Christmas.
Labour’s Deputy leader Angela Rayner last night said: ‘Revellers openly mocked the rules the British people followed. The Tories think it’s one rule for them and one rule for everyone else.
‘Instead of forcing them to face the consequences, Rishi Sunak has caved into Boris Johnson and chosen to reward them with honours. It’s a sickening insult.’
A photograph of the controversial celebrations by Mr Bailey’s campaign team was first published in December 2021 and put fresh pressure on Number 10 over its conduct during the pandemic.
After the picture emerged, Mr Bailey apologised ‘unreservedly’ and resigned as chair of the London Assembly’s police and crime committee.
A Conservative Party spokesman said: ‘Formal disciplinary action was taken against the four CCHQ staff who were seconded to the Bailey campaign.’
A spokesman for the Shaun Bailey campaign said: ‘This is an old story. We repeatedly apologised for this event at the time. It was subject to a nearly year-long police investigation. The matter is closed.’
It was not clear if the spokesman was one of those present in the video.
