No 10 staff told to ‘go out the back’ after Downing St Christmas quiz, report claims

Head of human relations gave advice to participants, paper reports

The Downing Street Christmas tree outside No 10 Downing Street, in central London. AFP

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Staff who stayed at No 10 Downing Street to take part in a Christmas quiz were told to leave “out the back”, it has been claimed.

The Daily Mirror reported that the quiz on December 15, which Prime Minister Boris Johnson helped to host, was held online, but with many taking part from the office.

The prime minister's office had said that Downing Street staff were “often required to be in the office to work on the pandemic response” during the various lockdowns.

Therefore, “those who were in the office for work may have attended virtually from their desks”.

But the Mirror said a message sent by No 10’s head of HR on the night advised that those who had stayed behind to “go out the back” when they left.

“Given there is an ongoing review, it would be inappropriate to comment while that is ongoing,” a government representative said.

An image published by the Sunday Mirror showed the Prime Minister flanked by colleagues, one draped in tinsel and another wearing a Santa hat, in the No 10 library.

The paper quoted a source who said many staff were huddled by computers in their Downing Street offices, conferring on questions and drinking alcohol while the quiz was taking place.

Tier 2 restrictions in London on December 15 stated there could be no mixing of households indoors, apart from support bubbles, and a maximum of six people outside.

Former Conservative mayoral hopeful Shaun Bailey quit as chairman of the London Assembly’s police and crime committee on Tuesday.

His resignation came shortly before The Mirror published a photograph of him and other staff at a party in Conservative headquarters.

The image showed 24 people with drinks and buffet food laid out.

The Tories previously admitted the party had taken place on December 14, when London was in Tier 2 restrictions, and said that staff had been disciplined.

And the GLA Conservatives confirmed on Tuesday that Mr Bailey had resigned from the role.

“Shaun Bailey AM has today stood aside as chairman of the London Assembly’s police and crime committee," they said.

“He does not want an unauthorised social gathering involving some former members of the London mayoral campaign team last December to distract from the committee’s important work holding the Mayor of London to account.

“He will continue to speak up for Londoners who no longer feel safe in our city and push for a strategy to tackle the disproportionate level of crime in London’s black community.”

Cabinet Secretary Simon Case has been given the job of investigating alleged gatherings or parties held in government buildings during restrictions.

It has been suggested he could come back with his findings as early as this week.