Police reopen investigation and launch new probe into partygate allegations
The Metropolitan Police has reopened its investigation into potential Covid breaches during an event at Conservative Campaign Headquarters in December 2020 and has launched a new probe into a gathering in Parliament during the same month.
Last week Virginia Crosbie, MP for Ynys Mon apologised for attending an event in Parliament while Covid restrictions were still in place.
The Guido Fawkes website reported that the Conservative MP, was the co-host of an alleged drinks event on December 8 2020, with the site quoting a WhatsApp message from Baroness Jenkin describing the event as “joint birthday drinks” to mark the pair turning 54 and 65 respectively.
The event came under the spotlight when Boris Johnson lashed out at the Privileges Committee ahead of its damning report into his conduct, and accused Sir Bernard Jenkin of “monstrous hypocrisy” for allegedly attending the event with his wife.
Ms Crosbie confirmed the event took place but said she had not sent out any invitation.
“Regarding reports of an event held on 8th December 2020 I would like to set out the facts,” she said in a statement.
“The invitation for this event was not sent out by me. I attended the event briefly, I did not drink and I did not celebrate my birthday. I went home shortly after to be with my family.
“I apologise unreservedly for a momentary error of judgment in attending the event”.
New evidence
The force said it is reopening an investigation into potential breaches of the regulations at an event in Matthew Parker Street on December 14 2020, following assessment of new evidence that was not previously provided to officers.
Last month a video emerged of a party held at Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) on December 14 while Covid restrictions were in place, with footage obtained by the Sunday Mirror appearing to show Conservative staff dancing and joking about lockdown rules.
The Met and Thames Valley Police will not open an investigation into potential breaches of the regulations between June 2020 and May 2021 at Downing Street and Chequers, after assessing material referred by the Cabinet Office.
The Met said: “Based on an assessment of that material and an account provided regarding the diary entries, and also having sought some further clarification, the Met and Thames Valley Police have each assessed the events in their jurisdiction and concluded that they do not meet the retrospective criteria for opening an investigation.”
The force said it will provide further updates “at the appropriate time”.
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I arranged a party via word of mouth, did not celebrate my advancing years and took no drink, sounds like my mate’s AA meeting… On the other foot he is now dead, not Covid but Cancer, they were too busy to get round to him soon enough. Busy, not trying to fix it for the BNP or the New Conservatives as they are now know but busy trying to undo the mess Hunt had made of the NHS… Now this weird grinning gargoyle is all set for a fire-sale and with his partner Sunak is busy building up a bidding… Read more »
If this isn’t the final nail in the Conservative coffin I don’t know what is. And I find it incredulous the depths of depravity the Conservatives go to get their kicks. I can recall when it was announced that my late father’s sister died of Covid. She caught it after being sent to a care home due to her dementia symptoms worsening., and how she fought for every breath until her lungs filled up with fluid, subsequently collapsed causing her heart to fail ending with her death alone without her husband of 56 years. This was in January 2021 a… Read more »
Anyone who thinks an empty apology will suffice for such wrongdoing needs to read your story but they will have heard so many more like it and still they couldn’t care less about any single one of us. I absolutely concur with your last sentence.
Every time I read about “Partygate” (such a silly name for a serious breach of law and the destruction of public trust) I get this horrible breathlessness combined with a lifting sensation…. I get the same kind of feeling every time I think about my late partner. She warn’t perfect, and our relationship was far from idyllic, but she is the only person whom I could trust when they said “I love you” I have the BPDs and the Bipolars, I find it hard to trust or believe what others are saying, but with her, even when things were at… Read more »
As a .matter of balance should the police re-investigate what happened at Durham If not, why not?