Michael Gove says sorry over Tory lockdown party video

Michael Gove has apologised for a video showing Tory activists at a Christmas party during lockdown in 2020, saying it is "indefensible".

The video published by the Mirror shows workers drinking and dancing at an event in London in December that year.

The housing secretary told the BBC the footage was "terrible" and would leave people feeling "extremely angry".

The Metropolitan Police said they were "aware of the footage and are considering it".

Mr Gove said two Tories at the gathering recently given honours by Boris Johnson should not be stripped of them.

In the footage, one person is heard saying it is OK to film "as long as we don't stream that we're, like, bending the rules".

The Conservative Party said four people were disciplined over the event, although it has not named them.

Police investigated the event last year and no fines were issued. The event has been reported before, but only still photographs have previously been published.

The event at the Tory party's HQ was organised by the campaign team for Shaun Bailey, who was running for London mayor at the time the video was filmed.

The party took place while London was under Tier 2 Covid restrictions, when people were banned from socialising indoors, except with members of their household or a support bubble.

People who wanted to socialise at that stage of the pandemic had to do so in a garden or at a pub with outdoor seating - but such gatherings were limited to groups of six people.

Mr Bailey, who was awarded a peerage in Mr Johnson's resignation honours list last week, does not feature in the video but has previously apologised for attending.

Ben Mallet, a former aide to the ex-prime minister who was awarded an OBE last week, is shown chatting to guests in the latest footage.

Questioned about the video on BBC One's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Mr Gove said he would like to "apologise unreservedly".

He added that people who accepted the "curtailment of liberty" during the Covid lockdowns would be "extremely angry" seeing the footage.

But asked whether those awarded honours who attended the event should be stripped of their awards, he replied: "no I don't think that".

He added that "the decision about who was on that list is Boris Johnson's" as an outgoing prime minister, adding the government needed to respect "due process".

In November 2022, Scotland Yard said it was taking no action against Mr Bailey nor other people who attended the gathering.

In the 45-second video people can be seen drinking and standing in groups, while a man and a woman can be seen holding hands and dancing.

Labour's Angela Rayner said the attendees had "openly mocked" the rules of the Covid pandemic.

"The Tories think it's one rule for them and one rule for everyone else," added the deputy leader.

Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper said Tory MPs and ministers should be "sick to their stomachs" seeing this new footage.

"While families grieved and NHS staff worked on the front line, Conservative Campaign Headquarters partied."

The BBC has approached Mr Bailey and Mr Mallet for comment.

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