Boris Johnson has come under further scrutiny over Downing Street parties after a picture emerged showing him near an open bottle of sparkling wine at a Christmas quiz. 

The photo shows the Prime Minister and two members of staff, one with tinsel draped around their neck, near a bottle of alcohol and an open packet of crisps at the Christmas quiz, which happened during Covid restrictions.

The event, on Dec 15, 2020, is not one of those being investigated by the Metropolitan Police after officers were passed evidence from the Sue Gray inquiry.

After the photo was published by The Mirror, Dominic Cummings, Mr Johnson’s former chief adviser, tweeted: “There’s waaaaay better pics than that floating around, incl in the flat.”

Shadow minister Fabian Hamilton raised the photograph at Prime Minister’s Questions, saying: “It looks a lot like one of the Christmas parties he told us never happened. Will the Prime Minister be referring this party to the police as it is not one of the ones currently being investigated?”

Mr Johnson responded: “In what he has just said, I’m afraid he is completely in error.” Challenged again during PMQs about the photograph, he said: “That event already has been submitted for investigation.”