At least 24 people attended the December 2020 CCHQ event. Photo: Daily Mirror
A spokesman for Scotland Yard said: “We know the footage and we are looking into it.”
At least 24 people attended the event, which was handed over to the Metropolitan Police last year after it was published photos. The Mirror.
However, officers concluded that the photo alone was “not enough evidence” to take action.
Asked about the staffing, Mr Gove told Sky News: “It's terrible. The fact that this party took place is unforgivable. I'm sure the people who were there are repentant.”
The Senior Cabinet Minister added: “I want to apologize to anyone who, looking at this, thinks that these people are violating the rules designed to protect all of us ”.
He added that the millions of Britons who observed the “limitation of freedom” during the lockdown would be “extremely outraged” when they saw the footage.
Among those present were Lord Bailey, a former member of the London Assembly, and Ben Mallett, who was the Conservative campaign manager for the 2021 London mayoral election.
The pair appear on Johnson's controversial list of honors. Lord Bailey receives a Peerage and Mr Mallett receives an OBE.
“I'm sorry and I apologize unconditionally”
Housing Minister Michael Gove says a recent video of Conservative staff partying during Covid lockdowns is 'terrible' 18 June 2023
Lord Bailey, whose team organized the event, had already left by the time the video was shot. He previously apologized and said this should never have happened.
Mr Gove told the BBC he didn't think the couple should be stripped of their honors, but suggested that outgoing prime ministers should not be able to make such lists in the future.
“The decision to reward people was made by Boris Johnson as the outgoing Prime Minister. Outgoing prime ministers have that right,” he said.
“Whether they should do it or not is a matter of legitimate public debate, but for now they are doing it. I must, and I respect due process.
“We will all have our own personal feelings about who was on this list. The decision on who was on this list was up to Boris Johnson. That is the nature of the process.”
“We all have personal feelings about who was on the list [of retired honors], the decision … was up to Boris Johnson.”
Housing Secretary Michael Gove disagrees that Conservative staff in the video lockdown parties should have honors issued by a former prime minister. remove#BBCLauraK https://t.co/974wbOlyL9 pic.twitter.com/fYlSk0fh5u
— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) June 18, 2023 investigative material, amid calls for him to reopen the investigation and possibly impose fines on participants.
When asked if officers should look at the meeting again, Mr Gove replied: “Well, it's not for me to say if the police should investigate, but the evidence is there.”
A Conservative Party spokesman said “official disciplinary action” was taken against four employees after the details of the meeting became known.
Lord Bailey's spokesman said: “At that time, we repeatedly apologized for this event. The police investigation lasted almost a year. Case closed.”
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