The Metropolitan Police is “looking into” allegations parties were thrown at 10 Downing Street last year, but will not launch an investigation.
It comes as The Mirror published several allegations of parties thrown by Tory staff, including a remarkable picture showing dozens of Tory aides at a gathering last Christmas.
A Met spokesperson said they had received “a significant amount of material in relation to the allegations reported in the media” but that it was not the policy to investigate lockdown breaches “long after they were said to have taken place”.
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“All the material has been considered by detectives in detail and it does not provide evidence of a breach of the Health Protection Regulations but restates allegations made in the media,” the spokesperson added.
Earlier this week, an extraordinary image emerged of Tory aides in Westminster throwing a party last Christmas in blatant breach of lockdown rules.
The picture – obtained by The Mirror – showed 24 people gathered in a medium-sized room in the party’s HQ building.
Some members of the party are wearing paper hats. One aide is sporting a House of Commons Christmas jumper.
The event was organised by Shaun Bailey’s mayoral campaign and took place on December 14 2020, while London was in tier two.
Mr Bailey later quit as chair of the London Assembly’s police and crime committee.
A Conservative spokesman said: “Senior CCHQ staff became aware of an unauthorised social gathering in the basement of [CCHQ] organised by the Bailey campaign on the evening of 14th December.
“Formal disciplinary action was taken against the four CCHQ staff who were seconded to the Bailey campaign.”
It followed news of a Downing Street Christmas party in which Tory staff danced and drank wine late into the night at an event described as “raucous”.
At the time, social mixing between households indoors was banned under restrictions in London.
The next day, Number 10 hosted its festive quiz, where Boris Johnson was pictured reading questions.
Hours before the party then health secretary Matt Hancock announced London would be placed under Tier three restrictions.
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The Met said they had followed the national approach to enforcing coronavirus Regulations throughout the pandemic.
“Where live ongoing breaches of the restrictions were identified, officers engaged with those present, explained the current restrictions, encouraged people to adhere to them, and only as a last resort moved to enforcement,” they said.
Police remain in contact with the Cabinet Office in relation to the allegations, and said: “If any evidence emerges of behaviour that is potentially a criminal offence it will be passed to the Met for further consideration”.
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