After weeks of damning allegations of boozy gatherings at Prime Minister Boris Johnson's official residence, police have changed tack and decided to investigate.
London's Metropolitan Police have launched an investigation into gatherings held at No.
"What I can tell you this morning is that, as a result firstly of the information provided by the cabinet office inquiry team, and secondly my officers' own assessment, I can confirm that the Met is now investigating a number of events that took place at Downing Street and Whitehall in the last two years in relation to potential breaches of COVID-19 regulations," Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick said on Tuesday.
At the time, people from more than one household were not permitted to meet indoors, but groups of up to six people were allowed to gather outside, with social distancing. Essential stores were open, but restaurants, bars, and hairdressers all remained closed, along with most schools. Just the week before, Johnson had given a press conference asking the country to continue to follow the rules.
"I urge everyone to continue to show restraint and respect the rules, which are designed to keep us all safe. It's only because of the restraint that everyone, you all have shown so far, that we are able to move gradually out of this lockdown," he said on June 10. Downing Street confirmed the birthday gathering, but said Johnson attended for less than 10 minutes, ITV News reported. In response to reports of a gathering in his residence later that evening, Downing street said:"This is totally untrue. In line with the rules at the time the Prime Minister hosted a small number of family members outside that evening," ITV News said.