Partygate: The Timeline of Boris Johnson's Lockdown Scandal

Partygate refers to a series of social gatherings held at 10 Downing Street and other government offices during the United Kingdom's COVID-19 lockdowns. These events, which occurred while the British public was under strict legal restrictions to prevent the spread of the virus, sparked a political crisis that eventually led to the resignation of Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The scandal unfolded through a combination of whistleblower leaks, investigative journalism, and official inquiries, revealing a culture of rule-breaking at the heart of the UK government.

Key Facts

Total Fines: 126 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) were issued to 83 people across eight dates.
Historic Breach: Boris Johnson became the first serving prime minister found to have broken the law.
Official Inquiries: The scandal was investigated by the Metropolitan Police (Operation Hillman) and senior civil servant Sue Gray.
Political Fallout: The scandal contributed to a massive loss of Conservative councillors in May 2021 and Johnson's eventual resignation in July 2022.
Parliamentary Contempt: The Commons Select Committee of Privileges concluded that Johnson repeatedly committed contempts of Parliament.

The Story Breaks: Initial Allegations (2021)

The controversy began in October 2021 when reports emerged in Harper's Magazine that Nimco Ali had spent Christmas with the Johnsons at 10 Downing Street in 2020. While Downing Street initially insisted that all coronavirus rules were followed, investigative reporting by the Daily Mirror and other outlets soon revealed a pattern of gatherings.

Reports that Nimco Ali had spent Christmas with the Johnsons in 2020 first appeared in Harper's Magazine.[61]

By December 2021, reports detailed multiple events, including leaving parties in November 2020 and a Christmas party on December 18. The situation escalated when ITV News broadcast footage of government aides joking about the December 18 party. This prompted Boris Johnson to announce an internal investigation led by Cabinet Secretary Simon Case.

Jacob Rees-Mogg's official 2017 photograph for Parliament — Footage of Jacob Rees-Mogg joking about the scandal was published on 7 December 2021.[67]

As more details emerged—including a "raucous" party hosted by Shaun Bailey and a "celebratory" garden event in May 2020—the government's defense shifted from total denial to claims that these were "work meetings." On December 17, 2021, civil servant Sue Gray was appointed to investigate the allegations formally.

Sue Gray's official government portrait, taken in April 2021 — On 17 December 2021, the civil servant Sue Gray was brought in to investigate allegations of parties in Downing Street during lockdown.[82]

Escalation and Legal Consequences (2022)

The start of 2022 saw the release of damning evidence, including an email from Martin Reynolds inviting staff to drinks in the Downing Street garden. This led to public apologies from Johnson and calls for his resignation from opposition leader Keir Starmer and members of his own party.

The Metropolitan Police launched a criminal investigation known as Operation Hillman. This investigation utilized questionnaires—equivalent to interviews under caution—to gather evidence from staff. In April 2022, it was confirmed that Boris Johnson, Carrie Johnson, and Rishi Sunak had all received fines for attending a surprise birthday party for the Prime Minister on June 19, 2020.

The fallout continued with the publication of the Sue Gray report, which cited "failures of leadership and judgment." The scandal's impact was felt electorally in May 2022, when the Conservative Party lost 485 councillors in local elections.

Head-and-shoulders colour photograph of Shaun Bailey in April 2019. — Shaun Bailey resigned as chair of the Economy Committee in the London Assembly on 11 January 2022.[86]

The Fall of Boris Johnson

While Johnson survived a vote of no confidence in June 2022, the cumulative weight of Partygate and subsequent scandals, such as the Chris Pincher affair, led to a mass resignation of 61 government ministers. On July 7, 2022, Boris Johnson announced his resignation as prime minister.

refer to caption — Johnson announcing his resignation as prime minister on 7 July 2022

Following his departure, the reporting on Partygate continued to be recognized for its impact, with ITV News and journalist Pippa Crerar receiving multiple awards for their coverage.

Colour photograph of members the ITV News team posing onstage with their AIB award. — For their coverage of Partygate, Paul Brand (far right) and ITV News won two awards at the AIBs on 11 November 2022.[131]

Final Reports and Parliamentary Contempt (2023)

The final chapter of the scandal centered on whether Boris Johnson had intentionally misled Parliament. The Commons Select Committee of Privileges conducted an extensive investigation, during which Johnson testified that he believed the events were "lawful work gatherings."

The Commons Select Committee of Privileges' final report into Johnson, published on 15 June 2023[145]

On June 9, 2023, after receiving a warning letter from the committee, Johnson resigned as the MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip. The committee's final report concluded that he had repeatedly committed contempts of Parliament. On June 19, MPs voted 354 to 7 to endorse these findings, resulting in the revocation of Johnson's privilege to access Parliament.

Summary of Key Events

Date	Event	Outcome/Significance
Oct 2021	Initial Harper's Magazine report	First public reports of lockdown breaches
Dec 2021	Sue Gray appointed	Official internal investigation begins
Apr 2022	FPNs issued to Johnson	First serving PM found to have broken the law
May 2022	Operation Hillman concludes	126 fines issued to 83 people
Jul 2022	Johnson resigns as PM	End of Johnson's premiership
Jun 2023	Privileges Committee Final Report	Findings of contempt of Parliament

Frequently Asked Questions

What was Operation Hillman?

Operation Hillman was the criminal investigation conducted by the Metropolitan Police into potential breaches of COVID-19 regulations at Downing Street and Whitehall. It resulted in the issuance of 126 fixed penalty notices.

Why did Boris Johnson resign as an MP?

Boris Johnson resigned as the MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip in June 2023 after receiving a warning letter from the Commons Select Committee of Privileges, which indicated he would be found to have committed contempts of Parliament.

What was the significance of the Sue Gray report?

The report by senior civil servant Sue Gray provided an official account of the gatherings, concluding that there were "failures of leadership and judgment" and a "serious failure" to follow COVID-19 regulations.

How many fines were issued in total?

A total of 126 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) were issued to 83 individuals for events occurring across eight different dates.

Did Boris Johnson admit to breaking the law?

While he apologized for his "misjudgments" and accepted the fine for his birthday party, he consistently denied intentionally misleading Parliament, claiming he believed the events he attended were lawful work gatherings.