25 June 2023 , 10:11
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A Tory mayoral hopeful has vowed to stick by two of his campaign staff who are embroiled in the latest Partygate scandal.
Moz Hussain, who is in the running to be the Conservative candidate for Mayor of London, has faced pressure to cast out the team members filmed at a "jingle and mingle" Christmas party.
The clip, unearthed by The Mirror, shows Tory campaign staff dancing and drinking at a gathering in London in 2021 - when Covid restrictions were in place.
The video shows Ben Mallet, who is running Mr Hossain's campaign, holding a glass of red wine and wearing festive braces. He was controversially awarded an OBE in Boris Johnson's resignation honours list.
It also shows staffer Malin Bogue bashing into a table laden with buffet food as she twirled around Tory HQ in a red dress.
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But Mr Hussain said he would not be dismissing them from his team.
He told The Daily Mail: "Like everybody else I was very disappointed.
"I suffered tragedy during Covid like other people. I've spoken to them and they are full of remorse. I like to give people second chances."
Last week our reporter tracked down the City Hall hopeful to grill him on whether the partygoers are still on his team as he tries to become the party's candidate to take on Labour’s Sadiq Khan.
But criminal barrister Mr Hussain was tight-lipped as he strolled through Kingston-upon-Thames, South West London, to meet Tory grassroots activists in a pub on Wednesday.
Malin Bogue, right, was filmed dancing to the Pogues' Christmas hit in the video
Ben Mallet, right, was handed an OBE by Boris JohnsonHe was so desperate to flee our questions, he then walked into the wrong venue.
Meanwhile The Sunday Mirror confirmed the last Tory London mayoral candidate WAS at his campaign HQ while his team enjoyed a rule-breaking Christmas booze-up.
Shaun Bailey previously claimed he had “toodled off” to appear on the BBC’s Newsnight programme before the party was in full swing.
But our investigation brought to light time-stamped evidence that he remained in the same building for more than an hour after the Sunday Mirror’s exclusive footage was shot.
Labour urged Mr Bailey to give up the House of Lords seat handed to him by Boris Johnson.
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Deputy leader Angela Rayner said: “This is just the latest undeserved honour doled out by the disgraced former Prime Minister but approved by Rishi Sunak. If his promises of integrity and accountability meant anything, he would rethink.”
Mr Bailey said: "As I have said consistently, I gave a short speech to my team to thank them for their efforts and then left the room shortly afterwards.
"I finished my work in a different part of the building and then went straight back to my hotel.
"I was not aware that the gathering would develop as it did after I left and I have apologised unreservedly."