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Cabinet minister suggests Boris ‘mijudged’ Partygate but shouldn’t quit


A Cabinet minister today insisted Boris Johnson should not resign if he is fined over Partygate  – but suggested he had lacked ‘judgment’. 

In a round of interviews this morning, Welsh Secretary Simon Hart argued that voters would want ‘contrition and an apology’ for ‘inappropriate’ behaviour. 

The stance came as the PM waits nervously to hear if he will be issued with a fixed penalty notice, after Downing Street staff started to receive them.

Mr Johnson’s position with Tory MPs seems to have strengthened after he was perceived as handling the Ukraine crisis well.  

And signalling a growing determination to try to tough it out whatever the outcome of the inquiry, Mr Hart told Sky News that the public did not want the PM to go. 

‘I have 65,000 constituents in west Wales, where I represent, and they are not shy in coming forward and expressing a view about this and a number of other subjects,’ he said.

‘And throughout all of this saga of the Downing Street parties they have said one thing very clearly, and in a vast majority they say they want contrition and they want an apology, but they don’t want a resignation.’ 

‘The idea that it might be appropriate to have a six-week indulgent self-indulgent leadership contest… frankly I don’t think that’s very sensible either.’

Mr Hart went on: ‘We all make judgments which we have time to reflect on and wish we had made differently… for me personally speaking I think the world has moved on, it’s considerable distance.

‘I trust the views of the people who elected me, in saying ”look, put this problem right, make sure you apologise. You acted inappropriately at the time.” 

‘But the idea that every politician or indeed every journalist for that matter who makes a misjudgment along the way should automatically be sacked is not something I subscribe to.’ 

In a round of interviews this morning, Welsh Secretary Simon Hart argued that voters would want 'contrition and an apology' for 'inappropriate' behaviour

In a round of interviews this morning, Welsh Secretary Simon Hart argued that voters would want ‘contrition and an apology’ for ‘inappropriate’ behaviour

Boris Johnson is waiting nervously to hear if he will be issued with a fixed penalty notice, after Downing Street staff started to receive them

Boris Johnson is waiting nervously to hear if he will be issued with a fixed penalty notice, after Downing Street staff started to receive them

Despite the bullish message, problems are still festering for the PM.

Conservative MP Steve Brine said last night there should be transparency about who has been issued with fines. 

No 10 has so far only promised to confirm if Mr Johnson or Cabinet Secretary Simon Case are given a fixed-penalty notice. 

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Westminster Hour, the Winchester Mr Brine said: ‘They should just be honest about who’s been tipped off with what and put it all out there and say, you know what, we got this wrong, or this person’s got this fine, because these guys in the press, they won’t focus on the issues of the local election, they’ll scratch around and try and dig all this stuff up again.’ 

Downing Street aides are being issued with fines over a notorious rowdy leaving do on the eve of Prince Philip‘s funeral, it was claimed today.

The police action over the event in No10 in April 2021 marks the closest the probe has come yet to Boris Johnson – although the PM was not at the event itself and is still nervously waiting to learn his fate. 

Meanwhile, a former Whitehall ethics chief is believed to be among the first to receive a fixed penalty over Partygate.

Helen MacNamara, who was Deputy Cabinet Secretary before leaving the civil service last year, was reportedly handed a £50 fine over a ‘raucous’  karaoke party in June 2020 where there was a drunken brawl. 

Helen MacNamara, who was Deputy Cabinet Secretary before leaving the civil service last year, was reportedly handed a £50 fine over a 'raucous' karaoke party in June 2020 where there was a drunken brawl

Helen MacNamara, who was Deputy Cabinet Secretary before leaving the civil service last year, was reportedly handed a £50 fine over a ‘raucous’ karaoke party in June 2020 where there was a drunken brawl 

The Queen sits alone at the funeral of Prince Philip in April last year. The day before Downing Street aides are said to have held a rowdy leaving do

The Queen sits alone at the funeral of Prince Philip in April last year. The day before Downing Street aides are said to have held a rowdy leaving do 

Former No10 director of communications James Slack has said he was 'deeply sorry' for the 'anger and hurt' caused by his leaving do in April 2021, saying it 'should not have happened at the time that it did'. It is not known whether he has been fined.

Former No10 director of communications James Slack has said he was ‘deeply sorry’ for the ‘anger and hurt’ caused by his leaving do in April 2021, saying it ‘should not have happened at the time that it did’. It is not known whether he has been fined.

Former director of propriety and ethics: Who is Helen MacNamara? 

Helen MacNamara has taken a top job with the Premier League, effectively ending her career in the civil service

Helen MacNamara has taken a top job with the Premier League, effectively ending her career in the civil service

Helen MacNamara’s glittering career in the civil service effectively ended last year when it emerged she had taken a top job with the Premier League.

It had not even been a year since she was appointed as deputy to the Cabinet Secretary, in what many saw as a stepping stone to the top job.

She reportedly fell out of favour after refusing to bow to Downing Street pressure and clear Home Secretary Priti Patel of bullying. Instead, Whitehall’s ‘sleazebuster-in-chief’ had stood her ground.

After studying history at Clare College, Cambridge, Ms MacNamara originally set out to become a web entrepreneur.

She went on to feature in a list of 35 women leaders under 35 to watch, but later recalled: ‘I wasn’t really interested in money, and that actually is a very significant failing if you’re trying to run a business. I was interested in doing interesting things and having a nice time and working with people.’

She entered the civil service in 2002, joining the Department for Culture, Media and Sport where she played a key role in London’s successful bid for the 2012 Olympics.

One Tory minister described the mother of four as ‘a perfect official, fair-minded, doesn’t play games, will always try to get at the truth, capable of bringing sense out of five-sided talks’.

Her husband Alex Towers, a former colleague, is now director of policy and public affairs at BT. Miss MacNamara herself has been hired as director of policy and corporate affairs for the Premier League.

The Met has been sending notifications to individuals via email after declaring that it was sending out an initial batch of 20 FPNs.

In one of the most damaging episodes in the Partygate scandal, Downing Street staff were said to have gathered after work for two separate events on April 16 2021, as the country was in mourning after the death of the Duke of Edinburgh.

One was for former No10 director of communications James Slack and the second for a photographer.

The two bashes later appeared to merge, with officials said to have brought in booze in a suitcase and partied until the early hours of the morning.

Takeaway pizzas were reported to have been ordered in and some of the revellers were said to have used a slide and a swing belonging to Mr Johnson’s son Wilfred – with claims the latter was broken.

The following day, the Queen sat alone – socially distanced from her family – as she said goodbye to her husband.

No 10 previously said an apology had been extended to Buckingham Palace. Mr Slack said in January that he was ‘deeply sorry’ for the ‘anger and hurt’ caused by the leaving do, saying it ‘should not have happened at the time that it did’. It is not known whether he has been fined.

According to the Telegraph, Ms MacNamara was among those who attended a separate farewell do for Downing Street aide Hannah Young, who was moving to New York to join the staff at the British Consulate General.

No ministers are believed to have been in attendance at the event which took place in June 2020.

It was apparently held in the Cabinet Secretary’s office at 70 Whitehall because it was big enough and had two rooms. 

Sir Mark Sedwill, who was Cabinet Secretary at the time, and former adviser Dominic Cummings, are said to have briefly attended.

However, neither are thought to be among those fined.

Sources told the newspaper the leaving do went on until 3am and that a drunken spat developed between two guests which others had to break up. 

Ms MacNamara entered the civil service in 2002, joining the Department for Culture, Media and Sport where she played a key role in London’s successful bid for the 2012 Olympics.

One Tory minister described the mother of four as ‘a perfect official, fair-minded, doesn’t play games, will always try to get at the truth, capable of bringing sense out of five-sided talks’. 

At the time of the event, she was serving as deputy Cabinet Secretary.

Ms MacNamara left Government in February last year to work for the Premier League as director of policy and corporate affairs.

The Metropolitan Police said last Tuesday that investigators were referring 20 notices to the ACRO Criminal Records Office, which is responsible for issuing the penalties.

The force made clear that more fines could be issued as inquiries continue, but the identities of recipients will not be disclosed.

The fines reportedly relate a party in June 2020, understood to be a leaving do for an aide, Hannah Young (pictured), who was leaving Downing Street for a Government role in the US.

The fines reportedly relate a party in June 2020, understood to be a leaving do for an aide, Hannah Young (pictured), who was leaving Downing Street for a Government role in the US.

 Mr Johnson is not expected to be interviewed by the Metropolitan Police as part of their ‘partygate’ investigation.

The force is not interviewing those who have received questionnaires as part of the inquiries and could potentially be fined, according to ITV.

The Met is investigating 12 events, including as many as six that Mr Johnson is said to have attended, and has sent out more than 100 questionnaires.

Details of Hannah Young’s leaving do only emerged after Sue Gray completed her inquiry into potential lockdown breaches by civil servants.

Senior mandarin Ms Gray carried out the probe into claims of lockdown breaches at the top of Government but has only published an interim report while she waits for the police investigation to be completed.

Out of 16 events Ms Gray reviewed, police are investigating 12 of them, including as many as six that the Prime Minister is reported to have attended.

One such party was allegedly organised by Carrie Johnson in the official Downing Street residence on November 13, 2020.

Another was the ‘bring your own  booze’ garden which took place during the first lockdown in May 2020. 

It is not clear whether a thirteenth event is under investigation. A Downing Street quiz, partly hosted by the PM, was initially rejected as not meeting the threshold, but police later said they were ‘assessing’ after a new picture emerged. 

Which bashes are being probed by the police?

The gatherings which ARE being probed 

– May 20, 2020: BYOB garden party

The revelation came in an email, leaked to ITV, from senior civil servant Martin Reynolds to more than 100 Downing Street employees inviting them to ‘bring your own booze’ for an evening gathering.

The PM has admitted attending the gathering, but previously insisted he believed it was a work event which could ‘technically’ have been within the rules.

– June 18, 2020: Cabinet Office gathering

Ms Gray’s report revealed that a gathering in the Cabinet Office on this date is being investigated by the police. It has not previously been reported on. 

The event was apparently held to mark the departure of a Number 10 private secretary. 

– June 19, 2020: Birthday party for the PM

A Downing Street spokesman admitted staff ‘gathered briefly’ in the Cabinet Room after a meeting. A report from ITV News suggested up to 30 people attended and the PM was presented with a cake. 

The broadcaster suggested the PM’s wife, Carrie Johnson, had organised the surprise get-together. Reports said Lulu Lytle, the interior designer behind lavish renovations of Mr and Mrs Johnson’s No 10 flat, briefly attended while undertaking work in Downing Street.

ITV News also reported that later the same evening, family and friends were hosted upstairs to further celebrate the Prime Minister’s 56th birthday in his official residence.

Number 10 previously said: ‘This is totally untrue. In line with the rules at the time the Prime Minister hosted a small number of family members outside that evening.’

The police probe relates specifically to the gathering in the Cabinet Room.    

– November 13, 2020: Leaving party for senior aide

According to reports at the time, Mr Johnson gave a leaving speech for Lee Cain, his departing director of communications and a close ally of Mr Cummings.

– November 13, 2020: Johnsons’ flat party

There are allegations that the Prime Minister’s then fiancee hosted parties in their flat, with one such event said to have taken place on November 13 – the night Dominic Cummings departed Number 10.

It has been described as the ‘Winner Takes It All’ party because Abba was allegedly played, and Carrie had a long-running feud with Mr Cummings. 

A spokesman for Mrs Johnson has previously called the claim as ‘total nonsense’.

– December 17, 2020: Cabinet Office ‘Christmas party’

A number of outlets reported that a gathering was held in the Cabinet Office on December 17.

The Times reported that Cabinet Secretary Simon Case attended the party in room 103 of the Cabinet Office, that it had been organised by a private secretary in Mr Case’s team, and that it was included in digital calendars as: ‘Christmas party!’

The Cabinet Office confirmed a quiz took place, but a spokesman said: ‘The Cabinet Secretary played no part in the event, but walked through the team’s office on the way to his own office.’

– December 17, 2020: Leaving drinks for former Covid Taskforce head

The former director-general of the Government’s Covid Taskforce said she was ‘truly sorry’ over an evening gathering in the Cabinet Office for her leaving drinks during coronavirus restrictions days before Christmas in 2020.

Kate Josephs, who is now chief executive of Sheffield City Council, said she gathered with colleagues who were in the office that day and added that she was co-operating with the Ms Gray’s probe.

– December 17, 2020: Number 10 leaving do

The Sue Gray update said the police are also probing a gathering in Downing Street held to mark the departure of a Number 10 official on December 17.

– December 18, 2020: Christmas party at Downing Street

The claim that kicked off the rule-breaking allegations is that a party was held for Downing Street staff on December 18.

Officials and advisers reportedly made speeches, enjoyed a cheese board, drank together and exchanged Secret Santa gifts, although the PM is not thought to have attended.

Mr Johnson’s spokeswoman, Allegra Stratton, quit after being filmed joking about it with fellow aides at a mock press conference – although it is not clear whether she attended. 

– January 14, 2021: Number 10 leaving do for two staff members

A previously unreported gathering is being probed by the police. The Sue Gray update revealed an event in Downing Street for the departure of two Number 10 private secretaries is being looked at by the police. 

– April 16, 2021: Drinks and dancing the night before the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral

The Telegraph reported that advisers and civil servants gathered after work for two separate events on the Friday night.

They were to mark the departure of James Slack, Mr Johnson’s former director of communications, and one of the Prime Minister’s personal photographers.

Mr Slack, who left his Number 10 role to become deputy editor-in-chief of The Sun newspaper, said he was sorry for the ‘anger and hurt’ caused by his leaving do, while Downing Street apologised to the Queen.

The Telegraph quoted a Number 10 spokesman as saying Mr Johnson was not in Downing Street that day and is said to have been at Chequers.

The newspaper reported accounts from witnesses who said alcohol was drunk and guests danced to music, adding that it had been told that around 30 people attended both events combined.

The three events not being investigated 

– May 15, 2020: Downing Street ‘cheese and wine’ party

The PM, his wife Carrie, former chief adviser Dominic Cummings, and Mr Johnson’s principal private secretary, Martin Reynolds, were all pictured, in a photograph leaked to The Guardian, sitting around a table in the Number 10 garden, with wine and cheese in front of them.

Some 15 other people were also in the photograph, but the Prime Minister has insisted this was a work meeting, saying: ‘Those were meetings of people at work, talking about work.’ 

– November 27, 2020: Second staff leaving do

The Mirror reported that the PM gave a farewell speech to an aide at the end of November while the lockdown in England was still in place.

Other reports have said the leaving do was for Cleo Watson, a senior Downing Street aide and ally of Mr Cummings. 

– December 10, 2020: Department for Education party

The DfE confirmed a social event happened after The Mirror reported that former education secretary Gavin Williamson threw a party and delivered a short speech at an event organised at his department’s Whitehall headquarters.

A spokesman acknowledged that ‘it would have been better not to have gathered in this way at that particular time’.

Is the unlucky 13th being investigated? 

– December 15, 2020: Downing Street quiz

The PM appeared on contestants’ screens at the quiz but has insisted he broke no rules.

An image published by the Sunday Mirror showed Mr Johnson flanked by two colleagues, one draped in tinsel and another wearing a Santa hat, in Number 10.

Downing Street admitted Mr Johnson ‘briefly’ attended the quiz after the photographic evidence emerged but insisted it was a virtual event.

The police initially were not investigating this event, but later said they would ‘assess’ it following the emergence of another photograph of the PM. 



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