Boris Johnson pictured hosting Number 10 Xmas quiz ‘in breach of Covid Laws’
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The Prime Minister faces more questions over a Downing Street quiz he hosted while London was under Tier 2 "no mixing" restrictions last year
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Johnson was pictured on screen, sitting underneath a portrait of Margaret Thatcher as he read out questions.
A source said many staff huddled by computers, conferring on questions and knocking back fizz, wine and beer from a local Tesco Metro.
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The revelations seriously undermine Downing Street’s claims last week that no parties had taken place in No10.
Mr Johnson said last week: “I can tell you guidelines were followed at all times. I’ve satisfied myself that the guidelines were followed at all times.”
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But after details emerged of the quiz, a source claimed: “It was just part of the culture. The PM turned a blind eye. He seemed totally comfortable with gatherings.”
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A source said of staff’s decision to do the quiz in Downing St: “Everybody decided it would be more fun. It would be difficult to take part in such a large virtual quiz from home.
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They added: “No work was discussed, it wasn’t a business event. Nobody was working that evening, it was purely a social event.”
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The quiz finished at around 9pm, but staff stayed on for two hours or so drinking and chatting.
A source said: “Nobody ever questioned whether this was against the rules or if we shouldn’t be doing this."
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“We all just went ahead and did it. At the time we didn’t even click that what we were doing was so severely wrong. I’ve realised now that it was actually pretty outrageous."
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A No10 spokesman said of the new revelations: “This was a virtual quiz. Downing Street staff were often required to be in the office to work on the pandemic response so those who were in the office for work may have attended virtually from their desks."
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