Conservative Party staff were filmed partying at their London headquarters at the height of the COVID lockdown.
New footage obtained by The Mirror shows the staff at a Christmas party, dancing, drinking and joking about COVID restrictions during lockdown rules in December 2020.
Two of the party guests were in Boris Johnson‘s retirement honor list.
A couple is seen holding hands and dancing vigorously to “Fairytale Of New York” as they twirl around the room – at one point bumping into a table laden with party food and drinks.
During the video, a man can be heard asking, “Are you filming this?” while another replies, “It’s for parties, um, parties.”
Someone else jokes: “Instagram live!”
The first person then laughs and says, “As long as we don’t stream this, we’re breaking the rules, so to speak.”
The film is said to have been shot at a time when many families were unable to see each other over Christmas due to the lockdown system, which limited the number of people allowed to meet indoors.
According to the Mirror, more than 24 people attended the event and it is claimed that at least nine people can be seen in the video.
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The two people named in Johnson’s honours list at the event are former London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey – who has been knighted – and Ben Mallet, the Tories’ campaign manager for the 2021 London mayoral election, who can be seen in the video wearing colourful suspenders.
It is believed that Mr Bailey left the building before the video was taken.
The footage is likely to put the spotlight back on former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, just days after The Human Rights Committee found that he had repeatedly misled Members with denials about Partygate.
The Mirror had previously published a photo of the party, which was subsequently investigated by the police. Due to a lack of evidence, no further action was taken at the time.
Responding to the video, a Conservative Party spokesperson said: “Senior staff at CCHQ were made aware of an unauthorised social gathering in the basement of Matthew Parker Street on the evening of 14 December 2020, organised by the Bailey campaign.”
“Formal disciplinary action has been taken against the four CCHQ staff seconded to the Bailey campaign.”
Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner said the video showed attendees “openly flouting the rules” – adding that the recent announcement of the honours was a “disgusting insult”.
She said: “The revellers on this Tory binge during lockdown openly mocked the rules that the British people follow. The Tories believe there is one rule for them and one rule for everyone else.”
“Instead of forcing them to face the consequences, Rishi Sunak has caved in to Boris Johnson’s demands and decided to reward them with honours. This is a disgusting insult.”
“This Prime Minister is failing to deliver the integrity he promised and is showing he is too weak to put 13 years of Tory scandal behind him.”
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Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: “Conservative MPs and ministers will be sickened by these new Partygate recordings.”
“While families mourned and NHS staff worked on the frontline, Conservative campaign headquarters celebrated.
“What’s worse is that the current Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has acceded to requests to bestow honours on some of these people.
“There are thousands of families out there who deserve an apology for this scandal – Rishi Sunak should give them one immediately.”
