Christmas parties: Conservative staff event going ahead, says chairman

Boris Johnson hosted a Christmas market in Downing Street earlier this week

The chair of the Conservatives says he has no plans to cancel staff Christmas parties over concerns about Covid.

Oliver Dowden said the planned festivities were in line with rules, and he would "urge people to keep calm and carry on with their plans".

But the government has been accused of sending mixed messages about appropriate festive behaviour.

It follows controversy over No 10 staff breaking Covid rules with a party last December at the height of restrictions.

Boris Johnson - who was not at the party - has insisted staff stuck to regulations, but Downing Street has refused to detail how party-goers complied.

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Asked again on Friday about the gathering, where a source told the BBC that staff had food, drinks and played party games until gone midnight, Mr Johnson said "it's not true" that any rules were broken.

Speaking during a campaign visit to North Shropshire, he said the guidance had been followed throughout and that the government would continue to follow it.

The emergence of the Omicron Covid variant earlier this month has prompted some health experts to question the safety of large gatherings this year.

One Tory MP said unclear advice was spurring a "cancel Christmas brigade".

Downing Street has said there will continue to be festive events this month, but would not specify whether or not that would include a No 10 staff party.

Asked whether one would take place, Mr Johnson's deputy spokesman said they wouldn't set out details of private functions in No 10.

Although the government has not brought in new laws or guidance restricting socialising, some big firms have decided to downgrade Christmas events.

No 10 has said it is not urging people to cancel events - but ministers have given conflicting advice about how people should behave during this year's festive party season.

On Thursday, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said whom people kiss had "nothing to do with the government" - a day after Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey said people should not kiss strangers at Christmas events.

Earlier this week, Mr Johnson had to insist government guidance had not been changed after public health official Dr Jenny Harries said people should not socialise "when we don't particularly need to".

Business Minister George Freeman has said his government department would not be having a "big" gathering, telling Times Radio: "Nobody would expect us to".

He added his own parliamentary team were planning to "get together on Zoom" instead of an in-person event.

In an interview with BBC Radio 4's Week in Westminster to be broadcast on Saturday, Conservative MP Steve Brine said: "The cancel Christmas brigade have been given legs by unclear messaging from government.

"You have ministers out on the airwaves, flattered that they're being asked their opinion, proffering their thoughts on kissing under the mistletoe or on Christmas parties, deviating from the government line.

"What we've got now is with some, the zero Covid tendency has gained new traction and encouragement. Basically, we gave them an inch, and they've taken a mile.

"We need to learn to live with Covid. We are millions of miles away from that right now."

Speaking to BBC Breakfast earlier, Mr Dowden said the Conservatives would be holding a "normal Christmas gathering of staff that are in London".

But he added: "Of course, if the situation changes and rules need to be updated, we will comply with the rules as they stand at that time."

"It's not a children's party, so I wouldn't expect there will be games, etc. It will be a social gathering for the staff that are in our London office."

Some firms have scaled back their Christmas shindigs this year in response to Covid concerns

On Thursday, Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner said her party had been "reviewing our Christmas get-togethers" following the emergence of Omicron.

"The parliamentary Labour party was meant to meet and have a Christmas party - we've decided not to do that now," she said.

However, she added: "We've said quite clearly that we don't think people should cancel their Christmas gatherings.

"But we do think the government should make clear advice to people what they should be doing."

A Liberal Democrat spokeswoman said they had decided not to hold a party involving all staff this year. Teams will be having dinners, and they will be taking lateral flow tests beforehand, she added.

On Thursday, Ms Rayner asked Cabinet Secretary Simon Case whether he will investigate the use of government property for the Downing Street staff party on 18 December last year.

On Friday, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick said her force is not investigating the event.

"As far as I'm aware, we have had no complaint, and therefore I really can't comment on what did or didn't happen there," she told LBC.

After the interview, Labour MP Neil Coyle tweeted that he had written to Dame Cressida to ask the Met to open a formal investigation.