17 June 2023 , 19:19
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Finally, we have evidence that the Tories knew they were breaking the Covid rules all along.
Today, for the first time, this newspaper publishes video from inside a Partygate gathering – a Christmas bash held at Conservative Party HQ while indoor gatherings were banned.
We knew the party had taken place – we published a photo from the same knees-up last year, showing dozens of staffers huddled together, wearing festive braces, party hats and Christmas jumpers.
But we didn’t know how brazen they had been. This wasn’t some brief get-together, where colleagues bunched up just long enough for a group snap.
Two people dancing at the party
Tory guru Ben Mallet (right)The bombshell footage reveals Tory staffers drinking, dancing and celebrating in close quarters – enjoying each others’ company as the rest of the country stayed at home.
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They laughed and fell into tables to the sound of the Pogues’ Fairytale of New York as miserable families planned a Christmas apart.
And most shockingly, while most people followed the rules to the letter, they joked about how they were “bending” them.
Boris Johnson elevated Shaun Bailey, whose London Mayoral campaign organised the party, to the House of Lords last week.
Shaun Bailey was elevated to the House of Lords last week (Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)And Bailey’s campaign manager, Ben Mallet, was handed an OBE in the same list.
Even now, after MPs delivered their verdict on Mr Johnson, the ex-PM still insists he had no idea the parties he attended or saw going on broke the rules. But now we have evidence that at this party, attendees knew what they were doing was wrong.
Bafflingly, police did not issue a single fine for the event shown in the video. They closed their case in November, saying the photo alone was not enough to contradict the claims made by those attending.
Now, in light of this new evidence, the Met must think again and re-open the case.
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No parent should have to pay thousands to be able to communicate with their child.
It seems a really obvious thing to say – especially when household budgets are being squeezed more tightly than ever.
But that is often the case for parents of deaf children, who face costly bills to learn British Sign Language.
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Level One training can cost as much as £350, which means many families shelling out £700 for both parents to learn the basics. And developing their skills can cost even more.
Hearing aids and cochlear implants are free – but they don’t always work in places with a lot of background noise.
We’re happy to back Strictly winner Rose Ayling-Ellis’s campaign to have BSL training provided for free on the NHS. Ministers should ensure this basic need – being able to talk to their children – is free for all parents.