18-6-2023 (LONDON) Amid the persistent cloud of rule-breaking gatherings and COVID-related controversies surrounding the UK government, a video capturing a party at the ruling Conservative Party’s headquarters during the 2020 lockdown has sparked widespread condemnation. Senior British minister Michael Gove expressed his dismay, labeling the footage as “terrible.”
The revelation comes just days after a parliamentary committee concluded that former Prime Minister Boris Johnson had knowingly misled lawmakers regarding illicit lockdown parties held at his office. The Mirror newspaper brought the 45-second video to light, further deepening the scrutiny on the government’s handling of pandemic restrictions.
New footage of Tory staffers having a party during lockdown, attended by Shaun Bailey, who has just been given a peerage, and Ben Mallet, the tosser in braces, who apparently deserves an OBE. #Partygatepic.twitter.com/SPssMLVLZI
— Parody Rishi Sunak (@Parody_PM) June 17, 2023
The video, recorded in December 2020, depicts revelers merrymaking at a time when the British public in London were strictly prohibited from socializing indoors to curb the spread of COVID-19. In the footage, individuals can be seen dancing and indulging in drinks. Interestingly, two attendees at this gathering, which had previously come under investigation when a still photo surfaced, were honored by Johnson in his resignation list earlier this month.
Expressing his dismay, Gove condemned the incident, stating, “It’s terrible. I think it’s completely out of order. I just want to apologize to everyone, really.”
The timing of this revelation is particularly significant as Johnson recently resigned from his position as a member of parliament on June 9, just days before the privileges committee—an authoritative body responsible for disciplining lawmakers—delivered its damning verdict on him. This development has not only reignited divisions within the party but has also fueled public outrage.
Opinion polls indicate that the Conservatives, who have been in power since 2010, are currently trailing the opposition Labour party by approximately a 20-percentage point margin. The next general election is scheduled to take place no later than late 2024.
