As Guido reported a few weeks ago, investigations undertaken by the Standards Commissioner into lockdown partygoers Virginia Crosbie, Eleanor Laing, Bernard Jenkin and Miriam Cates have found that the allegations are not upheld. The report has been released today, just before recess tomorrow…
Despite finding that the WhatsApp “invitation to the event was accurately quoted by the media“, the Commissioner concluded that this was an socially distanced event with “both business and social elements“, and thus the four have been let off. The report also found that there was “wine (probably not exceeding two bottles) and ‘nibbles’ were available at the event”. A reminder: the invitation from Anne Jenkin began with “Virginia and I are have joint birthday party drinks” and signed off as “X anne“. Co-conspirators can decide whether that sounds professional…
Read the full report below:
In a WhatsApp’d invitation from Anne Jenkin a party during lockdown was described as “joint birthday drinks“. It was both Virginia Crosbie’s 54th and Anne Jenkin’s 65th birthdays on December 8, 2020. Why let a little thing like lockdown get in the way of having a party?
Today Guido learnt that the Standards Commissioner will report he has “insufficient evidence” that the event was a lockdown rule breaching party. In this Guido Talks podcast we cast our minds back to what we know about the birthday bash and tell the story behind the story. Co-conspirators can decide for themselves whether they think they broke the rules…
Guido has heard that the investigations undertaken by the Standards Commissioner into lockdown party-goers Virginia Crosbie, Eleanor Laing, Bernard Jenkin and Miriam Cates have been closed. The reports are expected to be publicly released in around two weeks time. Timed for just before recess…
The suspicion is that all four of the rule-breaking MPs will get off, and wanting to avoid an inevitable wave of outrage that will inevitably ensue, parliamentary authorities are waiting to release the report until everyone is off on their Easter holiday and it’s swept under the rug. Staff of the party-going MPs have been rather jubilant recently, presumably gleeful that it looks like their bosses have managed to get away with it…
The four were being investigated following Guido’s revelation that they attended a lockdown-breaking birthday bash on December 8th 2020. There were WhatsApp invites to the “joint birthday party” for Bernard Jenkin’s wife Anne and Virgina Crosbie. There was birthday cake. There was booze. This was clearly a party and not a work event, and it is an appalling case of “one rule for them and another rule for us” if they have been cleared…
It’s the third anniversary of the lockdown birthday bash in the Commons – a party Guido revealed this summer, hosted by Commons Deputy Speaker Eleanor Laing for her dear friend Anne Jenkin. Bernard Jenkin, of Liaison and Privileges Committee fame, attended the celebration. As if it were fate, on the same day three years later, it’s confirmed that Jenkin is under investigation by Parliament’s Standards Commissioner. He won’t be celebrating now…
The Met closed its investigation today, informing the partygoers that there will be no further action – something that many will consider unfairly lenient. Consequently, the Standards Commissioner can now commence its own inquiry. Last year, Jenkin voted to expel Boris Johnson from Parliament over his partygate scandal, asserting to the Privilege Committee, “the rules were clear—they were there for everyone, and no one is above the law.” Following our scoop, Boris sent Guido a statement, urging Jenkin to resign over the matter. He’ll be waiting with bated breath for the Commissioner’s conclusion…
Read the Met’s statement in full below:
Alex Cunningham, MP for James Cleverly’s favourite constituency of Stockton North, has tried to get topical question selected at Home Office questions this afternoon to bring up last week’s s**ithole controversy again. Failing that, Cunningham got up at the end of the session to deliver a point of order – only to get shot down by Deputy Speaker Eleanor Laing. No doubt he’ll keep trying…
UPDATE: Cleverly has returned to the chamber to apologise for using unparliamentary language in front of Cunningham, who wasn’t having it. Laing has shut down further comment.
The Met and Thames Valley Police have assessed new material in relation to potential breaches of Covid Regulations in 2020 and 2021. The Met will be opening one investigation and re-opening a previous investigation.
The approach to the assessment of these events has been consistent, enforcing the law carefully, thoroughly, proportionately, impartially and without fear or favour.
The Met has previously published criteria for assessing when to launch investigations into breaches of the Regulations reported retrospectively.
We will do so only when there is evidence of a serious and flagrant breach and where:
It is proportionate and there is evidence that those involved knew or ought to have known what they were doing was an offence.
Not investigating would significantly undermine the legitimacy of the law.
There is little ambiguity around the absence of a reasonable defence.These criteria have also been used in the assessment made by Thames Valley Police of the potential breaches in their jurisdiction.
Having applied those criteria, the Met carried out a thorough and impartial investigation into allegations of breaches of Covid Regulations at Downing Street and Whitehall, under Operation Hillman.
That investigation resulted in 126 Fixed Penalty Notice (FPNs) referrals.
The Met also previously carried out an investigation into an event in Matthew Parker Street on 14 December 2020.
Based on the information available at the time, that investigation did not lead to FPNs, but outcome letters sent to some participants stated that “the Metropolitan Police reserves the right to revisit this decision in the event that further significant evidence comes to light.” The receipt of video evidence has resulted in the Met revisiting and updating the assessment.
A number of other events were subsequently referred to the Met – and Thames Valley Police – with regard to Chequers.
Officers have now assessed these events against the serious and flagrant retrospective criteria for alleged breaches of Covid Regulations, with the following results:
Following assessment of new evidence that was not previously provided to officers, the Met is now re-opening an investigation into potential breaches of the Regulations at an event in Matthew Parker Street on 14 December 2020.
Following assessment of material relating to a gathering in Parliament, the Met is opening an investigation into potential breaches of the Regulations at an event on 8 December 2020.
The Met and Thames Valley Police have assessed material referred by the Cabinet Office regarding potential breaches of the Regulations between June 2020 and May 2021 at Downing Street and Chequers. Based on an assessment of that material and an account provided regarding the diary entries, and also having sought some further clarification, the Met and Thames Valley Police have each assessed the events in their jurisdiction and concluded that they do not meet the retrospective criteria for opening an investigation.
The Met and Thames Valley Police continue to reserve the right to revisit assessments in the event that further significant evidence comes to light.
It would not be appropriate to prejudge the outcome of those ongoing investigations or to provide a running commentary on their progress.
The Met will provide further updates at the appropriate time.
