British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was under fire Wednesday after a video emerged of his senior aides joking about holding a Christmas party at Downing Street last year when social gatherings were banned under Covid rules. The video, obtained by broadcaster ITV News, shows Johnson’s then press secretary Allegra Stratton, advisor Ed Oldfied and other staff joking about “a fictional party” during a rehearsal press conference on December 22, with no media present. In the leaked footage, Stratton is seen answering questions about a Downing Street Christmas party the previous Friday — when the alleged rule-breaking gathering took place. “This fictional party was a business meeting and it was not socially distanced,” she laughs over joking exchanges about “cheese and wine”. In response to the video, Downing Street insisted: “There was no Christmas party.

Source: Punch December 08, 2021 21:33 UTC