Partygate Tory Shaun Bailey hides inside City Hall to dodge lockdown bash quiz

05 July 2023 , 19:56

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Party infuriated huge swathes of law-abiding public

After the dancing during a boozy lockdown party at Tory HQ, Shaun Bailey has shown some fancy footwork of his own as he scarpered from the Mirror.

The London Assembly member emerged from City Hall and declined to comment when we asked about the new police probe into the bash that he attended.

The Conservative politician then rapidly turned on his heels and waltzed off to find a hiding place.

We quickly asked if he thought it was acceptable he was awarded a peerage by pal Boris Johnson, and Mr Bailey said as he went through security back into the building: “That’s for other people to decide.”

He then vanished inside and was spirited out of a rear entrance.

Teachers, civil servants and train drivers walk out in biggest strike in decade

Shaun Bailey scarpered when Mirror tried to quiz him (Getty Images)

The peerage has been rubber-stamped by the House of Lords Appointments Commission. It is unclear if the watchdog would have backed Mr Bailey’s elevation to the Lords if the police probe had been under way at the time.

Mr Bailey, who was given the peerage in Mr Johnson’s resignation honours list, could refuse to accept the seat.

Officials say Mr Bailey is due to be “introduced as a baron” on July 18. Critics say the process should be put on hold while police investigate the bash.

Dancing at party during lockdown

Tory aide Ben Mallett (wearing braces) is seen in the clip

Officers probed the December 2020 party last year and decided to take no further action.

They reopened the investigation this week after footage released by the Mirror showed people dancing at the “Jingle and Mingle” bash – and laughing at Covid rules. Indoor socialising was banned at the time.

Mr Bailey, who was at the gathering in Central London with Tory aides, insists he left the event before the scenes were filmed.

Invitation to the rule-breaking party (BBC)

Mr Bailey has previously apologised “unreservedly” for the party and said he was “very upset” to see the footage.

He added the event “obviously turned into something once I’d left – I didn’t realise that”.

Mr Bailey, 52, sat in silence yesterday at a police and crime committee meeting at City Hall as Met Police chief Sir Mark Rowley was grilled about Scotland Yard’s probe into the gathering.

Ben Glaze