BORIS Johnson had a birthday party during the first coronavirus lockdown in 2020 despite rules at the time making social gatherings indoors illegal, ITV News has revealed.
The broadcaster is reporting that the Prime Minister's wife, Carrie Johnson, has been alleged to have helped organise the surprise gathering on June 19 just after 2pm.
It's reported up to 30 people are said to have attended the birthday bash in the Cabinet Room after the PM returned from an official visit to a school in Hertfordshire.
ITV News understands interior designer Lulu Lytle – who designed the PM's infamous Downing Street flat renovation – was also in attendance at the party.
READ MORE: When will Sue Gray publish report into Downing Street parties?
Just nine days before the party was allegedly held, the Prime Minister asked the public to "continue to show restraint and respect the rules which are designed to keep us all safe" at a Downing Street press conference.
In another breach of the rules, ITV has also revealed that Johnson hosted family and friends in his private residence.
Downing Street has denied the allegation, claiming the Prime Minister only hosted a small number of family members outside.
It's reported that the PM's wife along with Lytle gave Johnson a birthday cake while staff sang happy birthday.
The partygoers are understood to have eaten picnic food from M&S, with the event lasting around 20-30 minutes. Downing Street has said the PM only attended the event for 10 minutes.
There are now well over a dozen parties that have reportedly taken place in Downing Street
Martin Reynolds is reported to have been at the party – Johnson's principal private secretary who previously invited more than 100 staff to a drinks party in May 2020.
Number 10's director of communications Jack Doyle and head of operations Shelley Williams-Walker are also reported to have been at the celebrations.
The news comes after more than a dozen parties were already said to have taken place at Downing Street throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
The partygate scandal has led to calls for the Prime Minister to resign, with Scottish Tory MSPs backing their leader Douglas Ross for the PM to go.
But Johnson has resisted such calls, urging opposition parties to wait for the result of the Sue Gray report.
The report is expected in the coming week and could decide the fate of the Prime Minister.
The majority of Brits think Johnson has lied over the scandals.
READ MORE: Michael Gove denies levelling-up funding ‘abuse’ as MPs raise concerns
The Tory leader's approval ratings have dipped to an all-time low and Labour have overtaken his party in the polls.
Approached for comment about the allegations, a Number 10 spokesperson said: “A group of staff working in No 10 that day gathered briefly in the Cabinet Room after a meeting to wish the Prime Minister a happy birthday. He was there for less than ten minutes.”
Responding to the claims about an alleged event later that evening in the prime minister's flat, a Number 10 spokesperson 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.”
Lulu Lytle has been asked to comment on the allegations with no response so far.
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