Fines to be issued for Covid Christmas party at Tory HQ

Police have made referrals for 24 fixed penalty notices for people who attended a Christmas party at Tory HQ in 2020, for breaching Covid rules.

The event was held for Tory activists involved in Shaun Bailey's unsuccessful campaign to become London mayor.

Lord Bailey has previously apologised for the event, at which people were invited to "jingle and mingle" while indoor socialising was banned.

A separate police inquiry into a gathering in Parliament is continuing.

The Metropolitan Police reopened an investigation earlier this year after the Sunday Mirror published video footage of the "jingle and mingle" party, which took place in the basement of Matthew Parker Street on 14 December 2020.

In a statement, the Met said it would not be confirming the identity of anyone involved or providing further details of its findings "in line with the approach we took throughout the pandemic".

Lord Bailey, who was given a peerage in Boris Johnson's resignation honours list, has previously apologised "unreservedly" for the event, describing it as a "serious error of judgement".

Both Lord Bailey and Tory aide Ben Mallett - who became an OBE in Mr Johnson's honours list - attended the gathering when Covid restrictions were in force. Both have been approached for comment.

At the time, London was under Tier 2 restrictions, which barred indoor socialising between people from different households.

A Conservative Party spokesman said on Friday: "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."

Officers had previously concluded an investigation into the party without referring people for fines.

They reopened the inquiry in July this year after a video clip published by the Mirror showed staff appearing to dance and drink alongside buffet food.