U.K. Goes Mad over Government Christmas Party

Last December, Boris Johnson essentially “canceled” Christmas in Great Britain. He ordered a strict lockdown in London and southeast England and banned the rest of the country from celebrating Christmas Day with family and friends in other households. The announcement was soul-crushing for millions who were consigned to an isolated and lonely Christmas. Now it appears that even the government’s own staff thought the measures were ridiculous.

Recently, the Daily Mirror broke the story about an alleged Christmas party at No. 10 Downing Street on December 18, 2020. Reports emerged of a party with food, drink, games, and even a secret Santa. Such a social gathering would clearly have violated the government’s own Covid restrictions. At first, the government denied all claims that the event took place. But when a video was leaked to ITV News, showing a government spokesperson in a press-briefing rehearsal laughing at a practice question about a Christmas party, this line became untenable.

Last December, Boris Johnson essentially “canceled” Christmas in Great Britain. He ordered a strict lockdown in London and southeast England and banned the rest of the country from celebrating Christmas Day with family and friends in other households. The announcement was soul-crushing for millions who were consigned to an isolated and lonely Christmas. Now it appears that even the government’s own staff thought the measures were ridiculous.

Recently, the Daily Mirror broke the story about an alleged Christmas party at No. 10 Downing Street on December 18, 2020. Reports emerged of a party with food, drink, games, and even a secret Santa. Such a social gathering would clearly have violated the government’s own Covid restrictions. At first, the government denied all claims that the event took place. But when a video was leaked to ITV News, showing a government spokesperson in a press-briefing rehearsal laughing at a practice question about a Christmas party, this line became untenable.