London, Jan 14 (UNI) After Prime Minister Boris Johnson it is now the turn of the staff of Downing Street to be accused of holding two leaving parties in No 10 on the eve of the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral in violation of Covid rules, BBC reported on Friday.
According to reports the gatherings were made up of around 30 people and including serving of alcohol and dancing until the early hours.
However, Mr Johnson was not present at either gathering as he was spending the weekend at his country estate, Chequers.
The latest revelations come as Mr Johnson faces anger from his own party over attending a drinks gathering in the Downing Street garden during the first lockdown.
Labour's deputy leader, Angela Rayner, said "the buck stops with the PM" over the "culture and behaviours" inside No 10.
No 10 has has also confirmed that the events took place on April 16, 2021, wherein Boris Johnson's former director of communications, James Slack, "gave a farewell speech" to thank colleagues ahead of taking up a new role as deputy editor of The Sun newspaper. Mr Slack's farewell party coincided with another gathering in the No 10 basement for one of the PM's personal photographers.
The two parties are then said to have joined together in the No 10 garden and continued past midnight.
At that time restrictions were in place for indoor mixing between different households. People could socialise outdoors in groups of up to six people or two households.
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