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ITV News’s Shehab Khan offers insights after several No. 10 employees were fined for the infamous “Bring Alcohol” event at the Downing Street Garden in May 2020.
Some government officials have been fined by police in connection with the “bring your own alcohol” event in Garden No. 10, attended by Boris Johnson, ITV News reported.
Two sources told Deputy Political Editor Anushka Asthana that good emails related to the garden party on May 20, 2020, have started to get into staff inboxes, but it is unclear whether the prime minister will receive a fixed notice. punishment.
This will be the prime minister’s second fine since he was fined for violating blocking rules in June 2020 when he attended his own birthday.
ITV News Deputy Political Editor Anushka Asthana provides an analysis of the situation
Two sources confirmed that some employees who attended a gardening party on Downing Street, who told people to “carry alcohol themselves” on May 20, 2020, received police fines.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson briefly attended the event, but said he had never seen the original email and that the garden party was in his diary as a business event.
Downing Street said it had not yet received a fine.
What is happening around this event could have a big impact on the mood of MPs – some tell me they are furious after the reversal in parliament on Thursday.
The public is unlikely to know whether Mr Johnson was fined until after the May 5th local elections, as Sofia police said they would not publish more updates during the pre-election period.
A Met spokesman said: “As long as the investigation continues during the pre-election period, due to restrictions on communication before the local elections in May, we will not provide additional updates until after May 5.”
Downing Street said Mr Johnson had not been fined in the last tranche of fixed penalty notices.
If he receives another fine, it will be double for his first, which was reduced from £ 100 to £ 50, as he paid it within 14 days.
Previous rules said repetitive offenders would double their fines with each subsequent violation, up to a maximum of £ 6,400.
An email invitation shared exclusively with ITV News confirmed that the garden party had taken place.
The invitation, sent by former Prime Minister-General Martin Reynolds, told more than 100 officials at number 10, including the prime minister’s advisers, speechwriters and door officials.
The invitation by email sent by Martin Reynolds, seen by ITV News. Credit: ITV News
The email, during the height of Covid’s first nationwide blockade in the United Kingdom, said staff could “make the most of the wonderful weather”.
It said: “After an incredibly busy period, we decided that it would be nice to make the most of the wonderful weather and have a few socially distant drinks in Garden No. 10 tonight. Please join us from 18:00 and bring your own alcohol! “
Mr Johnson admitted to attending the party, but said he believed it was a business event.
In January this year, he confirmed that he had joined the event in about 25 minutes from about 6pm, saying Garden 10 was being used as an “office extension”.
“Looking back, I had to bring everyone back inside,” he said, claiming that the event “technically can be said to fall within the guidelines.”
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