Boris Johnson decided on Tier 4 lockdown measures while civil servants partied ... trends now
Boris Johnson made the decision to implement Tier 4 Covid lockdowns - ruining Christmas plans for millions of Brits - while senior civil servants partied the night away in Downing St, leaked WhatsApp messages reveal.
A No. 10 Christmas party raged on December 18, 2020, which saw civil servants spill wine on the walls of the press office and partygoers leave the carnage to attend 'official meetings' according to Sue Gray's Partygate report.
All the while, the then Prime Minister was sat in the Cabinet room drawing up plans to announce that regular citizens in high-risk areas were to stay at home.
The timing of the party was revealed by time stamps on WhatsApp messages exchanged between then Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Simon Case, the then permanent secretary at the Cabinet Office, according to The Daily Telegraph who obtained the messages.
MailOnline has contacted No. 10, the Cabinet Office and Boris Johnson for comment.
Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during a news conference in response to the ongoing situation with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, inside 10 Downing Street on December 19, 2020 in London, England
A No. 10 Christmas party raged on December 18, 2020, which saw civil servants spill wine on the walls of the press office and partygoers leave the carnage to attend 'official meetings' according to Sue Gray's Partygate report (Johnson pictured at a lockdown party)
Hours after the No. 10 party on December 18, Johnson addressed the nation, telling people they were facing reinforced restrictions and that they could no longer travel.
'First, we will introduce new restrictions in the most affected areas – specifically those parts of London, the South East and the East of England which are currently in tier 3,' the then Prime Minister said.
'These areas will enter a new tier 4... that means residents in those areas must stay at home, apart from limited exemptions set out in law.
'Second, we are issuing new advice on travel... We are asking everyone, in all tiers, to stay local.'
This advice came less than 24 hours after civil servants were quaffing booze in the halls of Downing St - and just three days after Johnson had told the nation that 'it would not be right to criminalise people who have made plans and simply want to spend time with their loved ones [at Christmas].'
The sickening revelation comes as messages revealed that Matt Hancock said the Government must 'get heavy with the police' to make them crack down on lockdown rule-breakers and gave senior police officers 'their marching orders' to enforce restrictions.
Hancock made the second comment days before No 10 staff held an illicit party at Downing Street. The leaked texts to The Daily Telegraph also reveal that senior officers were hauled into No 10 to be told they should
