Video showing Tory staff at Christmas party during lockdown is 'terrible', Michael Gove admits

A video showing Conservative Party workers at a Christmas party during lockdown in 2020 is “terrible” and “completely out of order”, Michael Gove has said.

The Levelling Up Secretary was reacting to the video, obtained by the Mirror, which showed people dancing and drinking at a gathering – ignoring strict social distancing rules imposed by the government at the height of the pandemic.

“The fact this party went ahead is indefensible,” Mr Gove told Sophy Ridge on Sunday.

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Gove reacts to Christmas party footage

At least 24 people were reportedly at the event, which took place at Conservative Party headquarters on 14 December 2020.

Mr Gove told Sky News: “I just want to apologise to everyone really who, looking at that image, will think well these are people who are flouting the rules that were put in place to protect us all.”

He added that he is “sure the people there feel contrite – or I hope they do”.

Analysis: Gove’s straight-talking strategy may not do PM any favours

Squeezing an apology out of a politician is no easy feat.

But contrition, so often painfully drawn out under the spotlight, could not have come more readily to Michael Gove’s lips this morning.

“I just want to apologise to everyone,” he announced, no sooner than the interview with Sophy Ridge had started.

A mistake? Then came another, and another: four apologies in all for a video showing drinking and dancing at Conservative campaign HQ during lockdown.

As I understand it, the apology was not a strategy that came from Downing Street, but a personal decision by the at times unconventional levelling up secretary.

Will his straight-talking strategy appeal to the public? Or will it tie Rishi Sunak too closely to an event, and a time, he is desperate to move on from?

The COVID Inquiry, the Privileges Committee’s damning verdict on Boris Johnson, and now this video, all falling at the same time, feeds into a picture of Conservative rule breaking.

It is also a distraction for the PM from the very present and pressing problems he faces: rising mortgage rates, sky-high inflation and an all-round bleak economic outlook.

This video may not be dramatically shifting the dial, but it does not help the party or the PM.

The gathering included Shaun Bailey – who was running a campaign to be the mayor of London at the time – and Ben Mallet, the director for his 2021 campaign in the capital.

Mr Bailey is understood to have left before the video was taken.

He has recently been given a peerage, adding to him to the House of Lords, in Boris Johnson’s resignation honours – approved by Downing Street.

Mr Mallet was given an OBE in the same honours list.

The Mirror previously released a photo from the party, which was subsequently investigated by police. No further action was taken at the time due to lack of evidence.

The police have said they are “considering” the newly revealed video.

What were the restrictions at the time of the video?

The video was taken on 14 December 2020, when the England was under the tiering system of COVID restrictions.

London was in “Tier 2” – high alert – at the time, and shortly afterwards was upgraded to “Tier 3” – very high alert.

Tier 2 meant there was supposed to be no mixing of households indoors, apart from support bubbles, and only six people were allowed to meet – socially distanced – outside.

Funerals could have up to 30 guests, weddings and wakes were only allowed 15 guests, and pubs and bars were only allowed to serve alcohol alongside the notorious “substantial meal”.

Tier 3 restrictions were harsher, with all hospitality closed – and there was a restriction on overnight stays outside the impacted area.

There was also no mixing of households allowed, even in most outdoor places – although the rule of six could be used in outdoor areas like parks and sports centres.

The video and pictures of the gathering showed at least 24 people present – more than what was allowed at a wake or a wedding at the time.

Mr Gove was confronted with the account of one member of the public, who could not be with a family member having surgery on the same day as the video was taken.

The minister said he was “very, very sorry” for what happened.

Sophy Ridge repeatedly pushed Mr Gove on whether it was appropriate for Mr Bailey and Mr Mallet to have been given honours.

The cabinet minister said the current rules – that a resigning prime ministers can honour who they want – should not be interfered with.

He added that a debate on changing the rules was “well worth having”, but that “procedure” should be followed for the moment and those who broke restrictions should still be given gongs.

Mr Gove did say it was for Mr Johnson to defend his choice of people who were honoured.

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Following the interview with Sophy Ridge, Liberal Democrat chief whip Wendy Chamberlain said: “Gove’s apology is too little too late, it will bring cold comfort to the millions of people who stuck by the rules in the darkest days of the pandemic.”

Responding to the video, a Conservative Party spokesperson said: “Senior CCHQ staff became aware of an unauthorised social gathering in the basement of Matthew Parker Street organised by the Bailey campaign on the evening of 14 December 2020.

“Formal disciplinary action was taken against the four CCHQ staff who were seconded to the Bailey campaign.”