A video has surfaced showing Conservative Party workers drinking and dancing at a Christmas party held during the Covid pandemic, raising concerns about the party’s compliance with pandemic restrictions. The video, published by The Mirror, reveals party members discussing filming the event discreetly to avoid publicizing their rule-breaking activities.
The incident took place in December 2020 at the Conservative party’s headquarters in Westminster when London was under Tier 2 restrictions.
At the time, Londoners were prohibited from socializing indoors, except with members of their household or a support bubble. Socializing in gardens or at pubs with outdoor seating was permitted, but limited to groups of six people. The party in question appears to have violated these regulations.
While the event was previously reported, only still photographs were made public. Notably, Shaun Bailey, who was running for London mayor at the time and has recently been given a peerage in Boris Johnson’s resignation honours list, had members of his campaign team attending the gathering.
The Conservative Party stated that disciplinary action had already been taken in response to the incident. Police investigated the event last year, but no fines were issued. In November 2022, Scotland Yard announced that no action would be taken against Shaun Bailey or others who attended the party. The Metropolitan Police have not yet commented on the newly released video footage.
Critics, including Labour’s Angela Rayner and Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper, have condemned the party’s behavior, accusing them of openly flouting Covid rules and showing disregard for the public’s sacrifices during the pandemic. The incident has further fueled the perception that there is a double standard when it comes to adhering to Covid restrictions.
The emergence of the video adds to the political fallout faced by the Conservative Party, highlighting the need for accountability and transparency in adhering to public health guidelines during a time of crisis.
