Video displaying Tory employees at Christmas celebration throughout lockdown is ‘horrible’, Michael Gove admits

Jun 18, 2023 at 11:04 AM

A video displaying Conservative Party employees at a Christmas celebration throughout lockdown in 2020 is “terrible” and “completely out of order”, Michael Gove has stated.

The Levelling Up Secretary was reacting to the video, obtained by the Mirror, which confirmed folks dancing and ingesting at a gathering – ignoring strict social distancing guidelines imposed by the federal government on the peak of the pandemic.

“The fact this party went ahead is indefensible,” Mr Gove advised Sophy Ridge on Sunday.

Politics Hub latest: Gove reacts to Christmas party footage

At least 24 folks had been reportedly on the occasion, which came about at Conservative Party headquarters on 14 December 2020.

Mr Gove advised Sky News: “I just want to apologise to everyone really who, looking at that image, will think well these are people who are flouting the rules that were put in place to protect us all.”

He added that he’s “sure the people there feel contrite – or I hope they do”.

The gathering included Shaun Bailey – who was working a marketing campaign to be the mayor of London on the time – and Ben Mallet, the director for his 2021 marketing campaign within the capital.

Mr Bailey is known to have left earlier than the video was taken.

He has just lately been given a peerage, including to him to the House of Lords, in Boris Johnson’s resignation honours – permitted by Downing Street.

Mr Mallet was given an OBE in the identical honours record.

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

Mr Gove advised Sky News it might not be proper for him to say whether or not police ought to examine the video.

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What had been the restrictions on the time of the video?

The video was taken on 14 December 2020, when the England was underneath the tiering system of COVID restrictions.

London was in “Tier 2” – excessive alert – on the time, and shortly afterwards was upgraded to “Tier 3” – very excessive alert.

Tier 2 meant there was imagined to be no mixing of households indoors, other than assist bubbles, and solely six folks had been allowed to fulfill – socially distanced – outdoors.

Funerals might have as much as 30 friends, weddings and wakes had been solely allowed 15 friends, and pubs and bars had been solely allowed to serve alcohol alongside the infamous “substantial meal”.

Tier 3 restrictions had been harsher, with all hospitality closed – and there was a restriction on in a single day stays outdoors the impacted space.

There was additionally no mixing of households allowed, even in most out of doors locations – though the rule of six could possibly be utilized in out of doors areas like parks and sports activities centres.

The video and photos of the gathering confirmed no less than 24 folks current – greater than what was allowed at a wake or a marriage on the time.

Mr Gove was confronted with the account of 1 member of the general public, who couldn’t be with a member of the family having surgical procedure on the identical day because the video was taken.

The minister stated he was “very, very sorry” for what occurred.

Sophy Ridge repeatedly pushed Mr Gove on whether or not it was acceptable for Mr Bailey and Mr Mallet to have been given honours.

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

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

Mr Gove did say it was for Mr Johnson to defend his alternative of people that had been honoured.

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Following the interview with Sophy Ridge, Liberal Democrat chief whip Wendy Chamberlain stated: “Gove’s apology is too little too late, it will bring cold comfort to the millions of people who stuck by the rules in the darkest days of the pandemic.”

Responding to the video, a Conservative Party spokesperson stated: “Senior CCHQ staff became aware of an unauthorised social gathering in the basement of Matthew Parker Street organised by the Bailey campaign on the evening of 14 December 2020.

“Formal disciplinary motion was taken towards the 4 CCHQ employees who had been seconded to the Bailey marketing campaign.”