Johnson’s image of socialising with Downing Street officials

The prime minister is seen with a smile on his face, his red ministerial case placed on the floor, raising a plastic cup of white or sparkling wine in a toast with at least eight Downing Street officials.

They are a series of images that might reflect a typical leaving-do scene, standing in a circle, a table overflowing with party fare in the foreground.

This was not a typical time. England was eight days into its second national lockdown under coronavirus laws on 13 November 2020, when the photo was taken. More than 51,000 people died in the UK after testing positive for Covid at this stage, according to official UK government figures.

The prime minister repeatedly told the House of Commons that all rules were followed in No 10 and he had not been aware of any law-breaking parties.

Johnson is standing in a circle with at least eight officials pictured, although it is believed there were more attendees out of shot. There was no social distancing at the time. The rules were well known to the public on October 31st after he announced them to the public on television.

The prime minister is seen raising his plastic cup of wine in one image and gesticulating emphatically in others, clearly addressing the room in what is likely to have been a speech from his departing aide, Lee Cain. Social gatherings indoors were banned, while pubs and restaurants were shut down.

The table is filled with party food and drinks, including five open bottles of wine four bottles of red and a bottle of white. The prime minister's image of socialising merrily with his officials will raise questions as to why he was not given a fixed-penalty notice by the Metropolitan police for attending this gathering. He was given a 50 penalty for a different gathering, his birthday party on June 19th, 2020.

There is a sealed bottle of sparkling wine ready for opening. The police issued penalty notices to some people who attended the event.

A plate of biscuits with two packets of crisps or nuts placed on top.

There are two empty but used wine glasses and a stack of plastic cups.

A pump bottle of hand sanitiser and a tube of antibacterial wipes can be seen on the table. Ministers, officials and chief advisers were pushing the need to maintain hand hygiene. The official hands, face, space slogan was launched in September 2020 and dominated the public health message for much of the pandemic.

A red ministerial briefcase used to hold and transport official government papers.