“This wasn’t a leaving drinks – until the Prime Minister arrived,” a source told The Sunday Times.
“This was the usual press office Friday evening wash-up drinks.
“Boris came fumbling over, red box in tow, and he gathered the staff around the press office table, which did have bottles of alcohol on it.
“He said he wanted to say a few words for Lee and started pouring drinks for people and drinking himself.
“He toasted him.”
A photographer was reportedly present throughout the event, and took pictures of Mr Johnson.
“It was in Downing Street, people around the table, and there was loads of alcohol. If you put that picture on the front pages, I think a lot of people, MPs, who have priced a lot of stuff in will not have priced that in, because it looks like a massive p—-up.”
Mr Johnson’s alleged presence at the social event would be difficult to square with his previous statements in the Commons about gatherings during lockdown and his initial insistence that “all rules were followed”.
Asked in the Commons whether there had been a party in Downing Street on Nov 13 2020, he said: “No, but I am sure that whatever happened, the guidance was followed and the rules were followed at all times.”
Labour accused the Prime Minister of “demeaning his office”, with Angela Rayner MP, the party’s deputy leader saying: “If the latest reports are true, it would mean that not only did the Prime Minister attend parties, but he had a hand in instigating at least one of them.
“He has deliberately misled the British people at every turn.”
One former Conservative minister said that no one in the party wanted to “rock the boat” before the May local elections but warned that if the Tories fare badly this could be a “catalyst” for renewed attempts to oust their leader.
