Michael Gove says he's 'sorry' for new Partygate video of Tories breaking Covid rules

Michael Gove has issued an apology over a "terrible" Partygate video revealed by The Mirror showing Tories at a lockdown rule-bending Christmas bash in December 2020.

The senior Cabinet minister said the footage is "completely out of order" - but declined to be drawn into whether the Metropolitan Police should launch a probe, reports the Mirror. The previously unseen video shows staff boozing, dancing and mocking lockdown laws at the height of Covid at Conservative Campaign Headquarters.

One attendee can be heard saying: "As long as we don't stream that we're, like, bending the rules," before laughing while a man and woman hold hands and dance. Mr Gove told Sky's Sophy Ridge on Sunday show: "I want to apologise to everyone who, looking at that ... will think these people are flouting the rules designed to protect us all."

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CCHQ said "formal disciplinary action" was taken against four staff members, who were seconded to the London mayoral campaign of Shaun Bailey, over the "unauthorised" event. But Mr Gove added the footage may not have been available to those investigating at the time.

In the exclusive footage, shared by The Mirror, two people even dance past a sign advising people to “Please keep your distance”. At least 24 revellers were there and, shockingly, they include two named on ex-PM Boris Johnson’s controversial resignation honours list.

The video will anger families who lost relatives in Covid, while reigniting criticisms of Mr Johnson just days after he was slammed for misleading MPs over parties at No10. The party was held on December 14, 2020, just days after large areas of the UK were barred from socialising indoors.

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