The Metropolitan Police in London has announced that it is assessing new material provided to them in relation to alleged Covid rule breaches in 2020 and 2021 in Downing Street and Chequers.
The police force said its approach to the investigation would remain "consistent throughout", ensuring it enforces the "law carefully, thoroughly, proportionately, impartially and without fear or favour."
This comes after a previous investigation by the police into an allegation that Covid regulation had been breached at Downing Street and Whitehall was made.
That investigation resulted in 126 Fixed Penalty Notices in relation to 83 individuals.
We are aware of a video showing a December 2020 event that was previously the subject of an investigation into alleged Covid breaches.
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) June 19, 2023
Officers are assessing that video as well as material & information relating to other alleged breaches in 2020 & 2021.https://t.co/auXgQZSi3j
Since then, the Met Police has revealed that it is assessing materials referred to them by the Cabinet Office regarding rule beaches between June 2020 and May 2021 at Downing Street and Chequers.
It will also assess a report to the Met on Thursday, June 15 regarding media reports of alleged breaches in Parliament as well as video footage not previously revealed to officers during the last investigation.
The force has said that it "would not be appropriate to prejudge the outcome of these assessments or to provide a running commentary on their progress."
The statement from the Met Police added: "We will provide further updates at the appropriate time."
This comes after new video material allegedly relating to Partygate was leaked.
Leaked video allegedly shows Christmas party in Conservative headquarters at 'height' of Covid pandemic
One person present in the video asks: “Are you filming this?” As someone else replies: “It’s for party, erm, party use.”
A man then laughs after announcing: “As long as we are not streaming that we’re, like, bending the rules.”
🚨 | BREAKING: A first ever video of partygate has been leaked showing the Tories drinking, dancing and LAUGHING at breaking covid rules
— Politics UK (@PolitlcsUK) June 17, 2023
“Are you filming this? As long as we’re not steaming that we’re like, bending the rules ahahah” pic.twitter.com/7Rd5E3PMzI
Previously, a picture taken on the same occasion formed part of a Met inquiry but the force only had still images to rely on and found “insufficient evidence.”
At the time, a spokesman for the Met said: “The investigation reviewed all the material thoroughly and, after careful consideration, it was determined that there was insufficient evidence to disprove the version of events provided by attendees to a standard that would meet the threshold required.”
Mayor of London candidate Shaun Bailey apologises for 'serious error of judgement' amid Covid party
The alleged party was planned by the campaign team of the then London Mayor candidate Shaun Bailey, who has now become Lord Bailey after Mr Johnson made him a peer in his recent honours list, but he had left the party before the video was taken.
When the original photos of the party were published, Mr Bailey apologised on Twitter, saying: “I gave a speech to my team to thank them... it was a serious error of judgment at a time when Londoners were making immense sacrifices to keep us all safe and I regret it wholeheartedly.”
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