Downing Street is again the center of attention but not a good one. A recent email leak is on the internet. It shows British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s principal private secretary inviting staff to “socially-distanced drinks”.
The party was supposedly held in March of 2020 when the country was going through its first lockdown. This was the time when household mixing was limited to two people. Outdoor meetings were observed at a distance of two meters. In-person meetings in the workplace were suspended. It surfaced that the invite was for 100 people.
The email contains a message from Martin Reynolds saying “After what has been an incredibly busy period it would be nice to make the most of the lovely weather and have some socially distanced drinks in the No10 garden this evening.” It also adds “Please join us from 6 pm and bring your own booze!”
Sue Gray, a senior civil servant was tasked to investigate the email further. Johnson is now facing claims that several parties have been held on Downing Street during the country’s lockdown. Just recently, The Guardian shared an image showing several staff members present at the Prime Minister’s residence. They were in the garden and Johnson was seen with his ex-fiancee Carrie Symonds with two others seated on a table with bottles of wine and a cheeseboard.
Deputy Leader of the Labour Party and Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Angela Rayner responded to the leak. She said, “Boris Johnson has consistently shown that he has no regard for the rules he puts in place for the rest of us.”