Police investigate Covid-era 'drinking event' attended by Party Investigation MP

Sir Bernard Jenkin (right) was among the members of the privileges committee who questioned Boris Johnson Photo: Pixel GRG

Metropolitan Police investigate claims Covid rules were violated at an alleged drink party attended by the most senior Conservative MP on the privileges committee investigating Boris Johnson.

The privileges committee report released Thursday concluded that the former Prime Minister deliberately misled MPs over a partygate.

Sir Bernard Jenkin was alleged to have attended his wife's birthday party in Parliament in December 2020. MPs were reportedly drinking and eating cake at the event, allegedly not adhering to social distancing measures.

The Met confirmed to The Telegraph on Thursday evening that it had received a «third party report» following claims of an alleged breach of Covid rules.

A spokesman said: “Information is being evaluated. There is no investigation and officers have not contacted the Speaker's office about this.» The event Sir Bernard is said to have attended was hosted by Dame Eleanor Lang, Deputy Speaker, who revealed on Guido Fox's blog that she used a two-meter ruler to enforce social distancing . At the time, Covid rules prohibited indoor gatherings unless they were necessary for work.

On Wednesday, Sir Bernard denied to Guido Fawkes that he was attending a drink party, while his ally said there were no rules violated. .

Mr Johnson's allies in Parliament denounced what they called hypocrisy over the alleged drinking party.

One former minister who is set to vote next week against the Johnson report's findings told The Telegraph: «I don't know how they can investigate Boris' actions, not what happened that night in the Vice Speaker's office. The law of the land should apply to everyone.”

Sir Bernard, a senior Conservative MP who had previously clashed with Mr. Johnson, has not resigned from the privileges committee's investigation.

Mr Johnson's allies say the report's findings were influenced by the political views of committee members, including Sir Bernard and its chairman, Labor MP Harriet Harman.

Boris Johnson and Sir Bernard Jenkin

The Met had previously insisted On this. that it will not investigate alleged Covid violations retrospectively.

In December 2021, law enforcement said they would not investigate the Downing Street Christmas Party as they had a policy not to investigate past violations.

But on January 25 of the following year, Cressida Dick, then Commissioner, announced that there would be a formal investigation following new evidence from Sue Gray's investigation.

2020 Met Police document. stated that the policy of the security forces is not «the usual retrospective investigation», arguing that «this will set a precedent where we will have to investigate potentially thousands of complaints and appeals on social networks.»

The document says that investigations should be reserved for the most «serious and egregious violations» that «substantially undermine the legitimacy of the law.»