Lockdown party allegations facing UK PM Johnson

LONDON (Reuters) – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his finance minister Rishi Sunak are to receive fines for breaching strict coronavirus lockdown rules, a government statement said on Tuesday.

Police have been investigating 12 gatherings at Downing Street and the Cabinet Office after an internal inquiry found Johnson’s staff had enjoyed alcohol-fuelled parties, with the British leader attending a few of the events himself.

Below is a timeline of the party reports and what Johnson has said about them:

Nov. 30 – First lockdown Christmas party report

The Mirror newspaper reports that Christmas parties took place in government offices, including Johnson’s own in Downing Street, in December 2020, when such gatherings were banned.

Later media reports include a photo of Johnson hosting an online Christmas quiz for his staff, seated alongside an official draped in tinsel.

Dec. 1 – Johnson denial

Asked by the leader of the opposition Labour Party about reports of a December 2020 Christmas party, Johnson tells parliament: “All guidance was followed completely in No. 10.”

Dec. 7 – Video of staff joking about party

ITV News publishes a leaked video showing Johnson’s staff laughing and joking during a mock news conference over how to explain a gathering in Downing Street.

In the video, Allegra Stratton, then Johnson’s press secretary, says: “This fictional party was a business meeting, and it was not socially distanced.”

Dec. 8 – Johnson apologises, aide resigns

Johnson tells parliament: “I apologise unreservedly for the offence that (the Stratton clip) has caused up and down the country, and I apologise for the impression that it gives.

“I have been repeatedly assured since these allegations emerged that there was no party and that no COVID rules were broken… if those rules were broken, there will be disciplinary action for all those involved.”

Stratton resigns.

Dec. 9 – Details of inquiry published

The government says Britain’s top civil servant, Simon Case, will lead an inquiry into three alleged gatherings. After additional media reports, it is broadened to cover further gatherings.

Dec. 17 – Lead investigator steps down

Case steps down after reports that an event was held in his own office. The government says the investigation will be concluded by senior civil servant Sue Gray.

Dec. 19 – Garden party photo published

The Guardian newspaper publishes a photograph of Johnson and more than a dozen others drinking wine in the Downing Street garden that it said was taken during lockdown on May 15, 2020.

Dec. 20 – Johnson says garden party was work

“Those were people at work talking about work,” Johnson said when asked about the Guardian picture.

Jan. 10 – Party invitation from Johnson’s aide published

ITV publishes an email sent by Johnson’s Principal Private Secretary Martin Reynolds to over 100 Downing Street employees on May 20, 2020, inviting them “after what has been an incredibly busy period… (to) some socially distanced drinks in the No10 garden this evening … and bring your own booze!”

ITV said around 40 staff gathered, including Johnson and his partner Carrie, even though at the time social mixing between households was limited to two people outdoors.

Jan. 12 – PM says he attended lockdown gathering

Johnson tells parliament he attended a gathering on May 20, 2020, in the Downing Street garden and apologises.

“When I went into that garden… to thank groups of staff before going back into my office 25 minutes later to continue working, I believed implicitly that this was a work event,” he said. His press secretary says he did not see Reynolds’ email.

The Times newspaper cites Conservative lawmakers saying Johnson later told them he did not believe he had personally done anything wrong and said “we’re taking hits for something we don’t deserve”.

Jan. 13 – Police decline to investigate gatherings

British police say they will not investigate the Downing Street gatherings unless Gray’s inquiry finds evidence of potential criminal offences.

Jan. 14 – PM apologises to Buckingham Palace

Johnson’s office apologises to Queen Elizabeth after it emerged staff partied late into the night in Downing Street on the eve of her husband Prince Philip’s funeral in April 2021, when mixing indoors was banned. Johnson was at his country residence that day, his spokesman says.

One of those parties was a leaving event for James Slack, a former director of communications, who apologises and says the gathering “should not have happened at the time that it did”.

Jan. 17 – Former aide says Johnson knew about May 2020 party

Dominic Cummings, a former senior adviser to Johnson, says he is willing to “swear under oath” the prime minister knew about the May 20, 2020, party.

Cummings says he and at least one other adviser told Reynolds the drinks should not go ahead and that this warning was sent via email. According to Cummings, Reynolds said he would check with Johnson if he was happy for the drinks to go ahead, and he is sure Reynolds did so.

Jan. 24 – Report of Johnson 2020 birthday gathering

ITV News says up to 30 people attended a June 19, 2020, birthday event for Johnson at 10 Downing Street at which he was presented with a cake while his wife led staff in a chorus of ‘Happy Birthday’. Johnson’s office confirm staff gathered briefly after a meeting but dispute it was a party.

Jan. 25 – Police say they are now investigating

London’s Metropolitan Police say have begun investigating “a number of events” that took place in Downing Street and other government departments after receiving information from Gray’s inquiry.

Jan. 31 – Gray provides an initial report condemning some of the behaviour in government as being “difficult to justify”.

“Some of the events should not have been allowed to take place,” she said. “Other events should not have been allowed to develop as they did.”

The government says her full report will be issued after the police investigation has concluded.

March 29 – Police say they will issue first 20 fines

Police said that an initial 20 fines would be issued over the gatherings and further fines were possible.

April 12 – Government confirms Johnson and Sunak to be fined

Police say the total number of fines to be issued is now more than 50, and a spokesperson for Johnson says the prime minister and Sunak have been notified by police they will be fined.

(Compiled by Kylie MacLellan; Editing by Catherine Evans, Toby Chopra and Susan Fenton)