No.10 Lockdown Party: "I was stood by my parents' graveside with 10 people"
An Essex man held a limited funeral 13 days before the Downing Street party
Last updated 27th May 2022
A man from Essex has expressed his disgust over the lockdown-breaking party reportedly held in the Downing Street gardens in May 2020.
Gavin Perrett, 47, lost both his parents to Covid-19 in March and April 2020, before hosting a joint funeral in May.
Only 10 people were allowed to attend the funeral, per lockdown rules in place at the time.
He says news of the party upset him, but that he wasn't surprised: "It's offensive, there's no sugar-coating this situation at all.
"It's not the first instance that we've heard of, it seems to be ongoing... every week or so there's another Downing Street related story which sheds more shame on how things are being handled.
"It is upsetting.
"The 20th May they had that party, thirteen days beforehand, I was stood by my parents' graveside with 10 people,
"I wasn't allowed any more than that. It just seems quite insulting, particularly when the Prime Minister then is interviewed on television and is seen actively sniggering like a school boy who's just been told off."
The Prime Minister is expected to face tough questioning at PMQs today over whether he attended the alleged 'bring your own booze' party.
It will be the first time he's appeared in the House since the email leaked, seemingly showing 100 members of staff were invited to the gathering .
Metropolitan Police has confirmed it is now in contact with Downing Street officials over the event.
A spokesman for Scotland Yard said: "The Metropolitan Police Service is aware of widespread reporting relating to alleged breaches of the Health Protection Regulations at Downing Street on May 20 2020 and is in contact with the Cabinet Office."
Downing Street also says an internal investigation is underway.