ITV News has reported that the Prime Minister had a birthday party at Number 10 during the first lockdown in 2020. 

Reports suggest that the gathering, allegedly organised by the prime minister's wife, Carrie Johnson, had up to 30 people in attendance on June 19. 

Number 10 has denied the allegations and Sue Gray has confirmed she was aware of the event, meaning the news will not further delay her inquiry. 

Here is a timeline of all the alleged events that took place whilst the UK was under stringent Covid restrictions. 


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How many alleged parties have there been at Number 10 during Covid restrictions?

May 15 2020: Downing Street garden party

Boris Johnson, his wife Carrie, former chief adviser Dominic Cummings, and Mr Johnson’s principal private secretary, Martin Reynolds, were all pictured, in a photograph leaked to The Guardian, sitting around a table in the No 10 garden, with wine and cheese in front of them.

There were also 15 others in the photograph, but the Prime Minister has insisted this was a work meeting, saying: “Those were meetings of people at work, talking about work.”

May 20 2020: BYOB garden party

ITV News revealed that more than 100 Downing Street employees received an email inviting them to “bring your own booze” for an evening gathering.

The Prime Minister admitted attending the gathering, but insisted he believed it was a work event and therefore “technically” within the rules.

June 19 2020: Alleged birthday party for Boris Johnson

ITV News also published allegations of a birthday party for the Prime Minister which was organised by Carrie Johnson and attended by some 30 people. 

Number 10 has denied any wrongdoing. 

November 13 2020: Leaving party for senior aide

Reports suggest a leaving party for Lee Cain was attended by Mr Johnson and he made a speech.

November 13 2020: Johnsons’ flat party

It is claimed that Mrs Johnson, who was then engaged to the PM, held parties at their Downing Street flat, including one on the night of Mr Cummings' departure.

A spokesman for Mrs Johnson has called the claim “total nonsense”.

November 25 2020: Treasury drinks

It is claimed that a number of people had gone unto the office for the Spending Review. 

A Treasury spokesman said to The Times: “We have been made aware that a small number of those staff had impromptu drinks around their desks after the event.”

November 27 2020: Second staff leaving do

The Mirror reported that the Prime Minister gave a farewell speech to an aide at the end of November while the lockdown in England was still in place.

Other reports have said the leaving do was for Cleo Watson, a senior Downing Street aide and ally of Mr Cummings.

December 10 2020: Department for Education party

It emerged that the Department for Education held a social event in Whitehall, attended by former education secretary Gavin Williamson, where he gave a short speech. 

A spokesman acknowledged that “it would have been better not to have gathered in this way at that particular time”.

December 11 2020: Wine fridge delivered to Downing Street for staff’s ‘wine-time Fridays’

A fridge with the capacity for 34 wine bottles was delivered through the back door of No 10.

According to sources cited by The Mirror, the fridge became necessary for staff’s “wine-time Fridays” which were held throughout lockdown, with the Prime Minister allegedly encouraging the parties to help aides “let off steam”.

The regular social gatherings were reported to be particularly popular among staff between autumn 2020 and spring 2020 when staff were “fatigued” with tough Covid restrictions that banned socialising.

Mr Johnson was said to have attended a “handful” of these gatherings.

December 14 2020: Party featuring Tory London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey and staff

Shaun Bailey apologised “unreservedly” for attending the gathering at Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) organised by staff on his campaign team.

“It was a serious error of judgment at a time when Londoners were making immense sacrifices to keep us all safe and I regret it wholeheartedly,” he tweeted.

He quit his role chairing the London Assembly’s Police and Crime Committee after The Mirror published a picture showing him at the gathering.

December 15 2020: Downing Street quiz

A picture published by the Sunday Mirror showed Mr Johnson attending a virtual quiz, wearing a Santa hat and tinsel. 

Downing Street insists no rules were broken. 

December 16 2020: Department for Transport party

The Mirror reported that senior civil servants were “boozing and dancing” at a party planned by staff from Transport Secretary Grant Shapps’ office.

A DfT spokesman said: “Fewer than a dozen staff who were working in the office had a low-key, socially distanced gathering in the large open-plan office after work on December 16, where food and drink was consumed.

“We recognise this was inappropriate and apologise for the error of judgment.”

December 17 2020: Cabinet Office “Christmas party”

The Times reported that Cabinet Secretary Simon Case attended a Christmas party in room 103 of the Cabinet Office, that it had been organised by a private secretary in Mr Case’s team, and that it was included in digital calendars as “Christmas party!”.

The Cabinet Office confirmed a quiz took place, but a spokesman said: “The Cabinet Secretary played no part in the event, but walked through the team’s office on the way to his own office.”

December 17 2020: Leaving drinks for former Covid Taskforce head

The former director-general of the Government’s Covid Taskforce said she was “truly sorry” over an evening gathering in the Cabinet Office for her leaving drinks during coronavirus restrictions days before Christmas in 2020.

Kate Josephs, who is now chief executive of Sheffield City Council, confirmed she gathered with colleagues and is co-operating with Sue Gray's inquiry. 

December 18 2020: Christmas party at Downing Street

This is the first allegation that came to light of a party at Number 10, where officials and advisers enjoyed cheeseboards, drinks and exchanged gifts. 

Mr Johnson’s spokeswoman, Allegra Stratton, quit after being filmed joking about it with fellow aides at a mock press conference.

Run up to Christmas 2020

The Daily Mirror said that Mr Johnson attended a leaving do for defence adviser Captain Steve Higham before Christmas 2020.

The newspaper alleged the Prime Minister made a speech but No 10 did not respond to a request for comment and the Ministry of Defence declined.

April 16 2021: Drinks and dancing the night before the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral

On the evening before The Queen buried her husband while sat alone, The Telegraph reported that there were two events held by advisers and civil servants. 

The events were held to mark departure of James Slack, Mr Johnson’s former director of communications, and one of the Prime Minister’s personal photographers.

Mr Johnson is thought to have been at Chequers. 

Mr Slack, who left his No 10 role to become deputy editor-in-chief of The Sun newspaper, said he was sorry for the “anger and hurt” caused by his leaving do, while Downing Street apologised to the Queen.