Should the Tory rule-breakers lose their honours? Take poll and have your say

19 June 2023 , 11:00

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Boris Johnson during a coronavirus media briefing in Downing Street in January 2022. Pictured top right are Jack Smith and Malin Bogue dancing around Conservative HQ during lockdown. Bottom right shows Tory aide Ben Mallett, right, at the party. (Image: AP)

Angry relatives who lost loved ones in the Covid 19 pandemic have accused Tory campaign staff filmed partying during lockdown of “dancing on the graves of those who died”.

Footage of revellers enjoying the knees-up during lockdown in 2020 has sickened the nation, with bereaved families calling on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to strip gongs from two of the party attendees recognised in Boris Johnson's resignation honours.

The bombshell video, published exclusively on the Mirror website, captures officials joking about the rule-bending bash in the basement of the Conservative Party’s headquarters. The Christmas do was held on December 14, 2020 when socialising indoors was banned in many parts of the country including London.

The footage shows one pair of dancing partygoers knocking over wine glasses as they spiral into a table laden with buffet food, with other revellers joking about how the gathering is against the rules.

It is the first time footage has emerged of one of the rule-breaking parties in Westminster. The lockdown-busting event was attended by failed London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey and Tory aide Ben Mallett - who will receive a peerage and an OBE respectively.

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In a grovelling apology on live television, Cabinet minister Michael Gove described the video as 'terrible' and 'unacceptable' - yet stopped short of saying the pair should be blocked from receiving the honours.

But what do YOU think?

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Should the party rule-breakers lose their honours? Take our poll and have your say in the comments below

Paul Speed