Government sources have revealed that Treasury staff held a boozy party to celebrate Rishi Sunak‘s spending review during lockdown.
Around two dozen civil servants attended the drinks party in the Treasury on November 25 last year.
The party was held despite coronavirus restrictions which had asked people to stay at home unless exercising or food shopping.
At the time, non-essential shops, bars and restaurants were closed.
Sources revealed that Mr Sunak’s officials who had been working on his spending review announcement stayed for a drinks party afterwards.
Wine and beer were brought into the Treasury but the officials insisted the party had been spontaneous.
A source said: ‘They’d all been working really hard. They had to be in the office anyway that day.
‘It was not a formal party but perhaps in hindsight it was not the most sensible thing to do.’
Around two dozen civil servants attended the drinks party in the Treasury on November 25. Rishi Sunak was not at the event and it is understood he did not know it was happening
Another insider said nobody had questioned the drinks party or thought there was anything wrong with the event.
They described the situation with parties and events coming to light as a ‘blame game’, according to the Times.
Mr Sunak was not at the event and it is understood he did not know it was happening.
The latest revelation comes after the PM’s ex-COP26 spokeswoman Allegra Stratton resigned this week over a video released by ITV which showed her laughing and joking with other staff about last year’s Downing Street Christmas party.
Staff joked about the party as families and friends were separated, many who had lost loved ones to coronavirus.
People had been told to stay at home in their own bubbles for Christmas and to not mix households.
The video left many people outraged, with some calls for the prime minister to resign.
The latest revelation comes after the PM’s ex-COP26 spokeswoman Allegra Stratton resigned over a video released by ITV which showed her laughing and joking with other staff about last year’s Downing Street Christmas party
Despite the video being released, Mr Johnson has maintained that there was no party.
A spokesman said of the Treasury drinks party: ‘In line with the guidance at the time, a number of staff came into the office to work on the Spending Review 2020.
‘We have been made aware that a small number of those staff had impromptu drinks around their desks after the event.’
An inquiry is set to take place into the three parties which came to light before this latest drinks party was revealed.
Simon Case, the cabinet secretary, is leading the investigation into last year’s Downing Street Christmas party on December 18, a leaving event on November 27 and an education department party on December 10.
He will decide whether to also investigate the drinks party held at the treasury.
Simon Case (pictured), the cabinet secretary, is leading the investigation into last year’s Downing Street Christmas party on December 18, a leaving party on November 27 and a party in the education department on December 10
Jack Doyle, Boris Johnson’s director of communications, offered to resign before the inquiry happens but the prime minister did not accept it.
Photos of the Downing Street party, some showing staff wearing Christmas jumpers, may be handed over to Mr Case.
Mr Case will also access WhatsApp messages which organised the event.
The messages are believed to reference the alcohol available at the event in large amounts.
Mr Doyle’s resignation was refused because, according to a senior Conservative, Boris needs to ‘throw someone under the bus.’
According to the Tory, Mr Johnson wants to make Mr Doyle ‘the fall guy’ and is good at convincing people he is looking after them.
Another source said the revelations and fall-out from the parties have been a miserable time and that no one is sure when it will end.
Jack Doyle (pictured), Mr Johnson’s director of communications, offered to resign before the inquiry happens but the prime minister did not accept it
They said Mr Doyle’s position at Downing Street may become difficult.
Mr Case is aiming to investigate the events in the next two weeks leading up to Christmas.
The Prime Minister will contribute to the investigation by saying that the event was not a party but instead was staff having drinks when they were all in the office.
The investigation will be difficult for Mr Case as according to a Whitehall source, evidence will point to a party and it will be hard to escape.
Chief Whip Mark Spencer has said that staff at No.10 were not drinking and party during Covid lockdowns or restrictions.
Chief Whip Mark Spencer (pictured) has said that staff at No.10 were not drinking and party during Covid lockdowns or restrictions
Speaking to BBC Radio Nottingham, he said Mr Johnson will have stuck to the rules and that there will have been no parties.
Mr Spencer also said the prime minister struggled with Christmas under Covid restrictions, like the rest of of the country.
A former BBC presenter may assist the inquiry into Downing Street parties.
They have been named in connection with the leaking of the video.
A potential source of the ITV News footage has been named as Chris James, a broadcast technology expert, who used to work for No 10.
It has been confirmed by Mr Johnson’s official spokesman that the Treasury and No 10 have cancelled this year’s Christmas parties but the public should continue with their festivities.