In the photo, Johnson is pictured on a screen, where he is seen in his office sitting close to two other people, reading out questions, according to The Mirror.
CNN hasn’t independently verified the details about the quiz party, which the Mirror says took place on December 15. A Downing Street spokesperson said it was a “virtual quiz” and that Johnson “briefly took part virtually” to thank staff.
While the photo shows Johnson with only two others, a source told the Mirror that “many staff huddled by computers, conferring on questions and knocking back fizz, wine and beer,” a claim CNN hasn’t independently verified.
According to official guidance at the time, “although there are exemptions for work purposes, you must not have a work Christmas lunch or party, where that is a primarily social activity and is not otherwise permitted by the rules in your tier.”
London was under Tier 2 restrictions at the time of the quiz, which said there should be no mixing of households indoors, apart from so-called support bubbles, and a maximum of six people outside.
An internal investigation led by Johnson’s Cabinet Secretary, the UK’s most senior civil servant, is already underway into three events from last year: an alleged party in Downing Street on November 27; a gathering at the Department for Education on December 10; and an alleged party in No. 10 on December 18.
Johnson and other top Conservatives have denied any rules were broken.
Responding to the Mirror’s reporting on the alleged quiz party on December 15, published late Saturday, a Downing Street spokesperson told CNN in a statement: “This was a virtual quiz. Downing Street staff were often required to be in the office to work on the pandemic response so those who were in the office for work may have attended virtually from their desks.
“The Prime Minister briefly took part virtually in a quiz to thank staff for their hard work throughout the year,” the spokesperson added.
Asked about the Mirror’s story on the BBC’s The Andrew Marr Show, Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi suggested people could judge for themselves whether the rules were broken, adding that many Downing Street staff were unable to work from home as they responded to a national emergency.
“These are people who work together… There is no drink here. I don’t think there’s a rule against recognizing Christmas with tinsel or a hat,” he said.
“Ten to 15 minutes to thank his team who were working all hours, on a virtual screen in a pub quiz — I think people can make their own mind up on that.”
Labour leader Keir…
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