NHS worker ‘incandescent’ with rage at aides joking over No 10 Christmas party

A frontline NHS worker has said she is “incandescent” with anger after a video emerged showing Boris Johnson’s aides laughing about an alleged rule breaking Christmas party at Downing Street

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Staff joke about Downing Street Christmas party during lockdown

An NHS England staffer has said she is “incandescent” with anger and feels like she has been “treated like a mug” after seeing a video of Boris Johnson’s aides laughing about an alleged rule breaking Christmas party at Downing Street.

The Prime Minister’s then press secretary Allegra Stratton and adviser Ed Oldfield, were among aides filmed joking days after a “fictional” party in December 2020.

Now a furious frontline healthcare worker has told how she was looking after Covid patients and also saw her mother die of the virus, while at the same time government aides were laughing.

The NHS worker said that her mum was admitted to hospital after a fall then later caught Covid and she was not able to see her before she died from bacterial pneumonia.

A video has emerged showing Boris Johnson’s aides laughing over a rule breaking Christmas party
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Image:

ITV)

“To say I’m angry… I’m incandescent. It’s the disrespect, it’s the one rule for us and another rule for them, that’s what’s the worst,” the staffer said.

“I see Allegra Stratton laughing up there and I feel sick, I feel disrespected, (like) I’ve been taken for a mug.

“I can’t put enough words together right now as to how appalling that behaviour is. It should have consequences.”

Downing Street again insisted on Tuesday there was no Christmas party and Covid rules had been followed at all times.

Downing Street again insisted on Tuesday there was no Christmas party and Covid rules had been followed at all times
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Getty Images)

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, however, has called on the prime minister to “come clean and apologise”, adding that for aides “to lie and to laugh about those lies is shameful”.

The healthcare worker repeated the call for clarity, saying: “If it’s proven to be a cover-up, there have to be some actual consequences – people will have to be sacked.

“I don’t think ministers and MPs should be able to go on TV and say ‘there was no party’ then later say ‘it was within the rules’ when London had tier three restrictions – and there be no consequences.

“You have to hold the country’s trust if you’re in a position of authority.”