Fresh photos of UK PM Boris Johnson drinking reignite partygate row
- The images of the prime minister raising a toast at a gathering were said to be taken during a national lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic
- The UK government is expected this week to publish the long-awaited Sue Gray report on the events held at Johnson’s Downing Street office
Britain’s ITV news channel on Monday published new photographs of Prime Minister Boris Johnson drinking at a leaving party at his Downing Street residence, reigniting opposition accusations that he breached his own Covid-19 lockdown rules.
The photographs were taken at a gathering in honour of Downing Street’s outgoing director of communications Lee Cain in November 2020, an event previously investigated by police for potential breaches of the law.
Monday’s photographs show Johnson making a speech and raising a toast, with half a glass in his hands, ITV said.
At that time, large gatherings with people outside your own household were banned after England had been put back into a national lockdown due to rising cases of Covid-19.
Reuters could not independently verify when or where the pictures were taken. Johnson’s office has said police had access to all information during their investigation, including photos.
Johnson was not fined for taking part in the November 2020 event, though he was issued with a fixed penalty notice for a Downing Street gathering to mark his birthday in June that year, an event which he said lasted no more than 10 minutes.
He has apologised for what he called a mistake but refused to resign over the issue.
The Metropolitan police did not immediately respond when asked if it had been aware of the Cain leaving party pictures during its investigation. The Cabinet Office, which has been handling a separate government investigation into the parties, did not immediately comment.
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The government is expected this week to publish a long-awaited report by the senior civil servant Sue Gray into the events held at Johnson’s Downing Street office during coronavirus lockdowns. Police have handed out 126 fines in connection with the parties.
The report, which is expected to include details of some events that were not investigated by the police, could spur more criticism of the British leader, who has been under months of pressure over several scandals and U-turns.
Angela Rayner, the opposition Labour Party’s deputy leader, accused Johnson of lying after he told parliament last year that all rules were followed in Downing Street during the pandemic.
“Boris Johnson said repeatedly that he knew nothing about lawbreaking – there’s no doubt now, he lied,” Rayner said. “Johnson made the rules, and then broke them.”
