Shaun Bailey apologises ‘unreservedly’ for staff-partying video – and says it’s ‘for others to determine’ about his peerage

Former London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey has apologised “unreservedly” after a video emerged of his workers partying in lockdown.

The Tory additionally mentioned it was for “others to decide” about whether or not he ought to lose the peerage supplied to him by former prime minister Boris Johnson.

Mr Bailey mentioned he was “very upset” to see the footage of workers on his mayoral campaign dancing and mingling on 14 December 2020 whereas London was in Tier 2 of COVID restrictions.

Both him and Tory aide Ben Mallet, who was handed an OBE in Mr Johnson’s resignation honours, attended the gathering.

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Mr Bailey – who was working to interchange Sadiq Khan within the 2021 contest – had previously been pictured at the event however was not seen in the latest footage.

Speaking to reporters in Westminster on Monday, Mr Bailey mentioned he had by no means seen the video and that the occasion “obviously turned into something once I left and I didn’t realise that”.

Asked if he thought the footage was acceptable, he replied: “It isn’t – I’m not saying it is for a second.”

And pressed on whether or not the British public deserved an apology, he mentioned: “Unreservedly – I apologised then and I apologise now.

“It was a staff team that were given to me, but the buck stops with me.”

The footage, obtained by The Mirror, confirmed Mr Bailey’s workers partying whereas Tier 2 restrictions have been in place.

The Mirror beforehand launched a photograph from the get together, which was subsequently investigated by police. No additional motion was taken on the time as a consequence of lack of proof.

However, the police have mentioned they’re “considering” the newly-revealed video.

COVID guidelines on the time mentioned there needs to be no mixing of households indoors, other than assist bubbles, whereas solely six individuals have been allowed to fulfill – socially distanced – exterior.

In complete, 24 individuals have been on the get together at Tory marketing campaign HQ – greater than the quantity allowed at a wake.

In the video, one man is heard asking: “Are you filming this?”, whereas one other responds: “It’s for party, erm, party use.”

There has been additional outrage at the truth that Mr Bailey was given a peerage in Mr Johnson’s controversial resignation honours list.

Meanwhile, Mr Mallet, who helped run Zac Goldsmith’s marketing campaign to be London mayor in 2016, is seen within the video laughing with colleagues, and a voice is then heard saying: “What do you think of this?”

Asked whether or not Mr Bailey ought to hand over his peerage in gentle of the video of his workers, he replied: “That will be for others to decide – for me, it has been a great privilege and I would like to keep doing work for the rest of the country and London as well.”

The video has additionally been criticised by various Conservatives, together with Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove, who admitted it was “terrible” and “completely out of order”.

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On Sophy Ridge on Sunday, Mr Gove was repeatedly pressed on whether or not it was applicable for Mr Bailey and Mr Mallet to have been given honours.

The cupboard minister mentioned the present guidelines – {that a} resigning prime minister can honour who they need – shouldn’t be interfered with.

He added {that a} debate on altering the foundations was “well worth having”, however that “procedure” needs to be adopted for the second and people who broke restrictions ought to nonetheless be given gongs.