Boris Johnson broke no rules after a picture emerged of him taking part in an online Downing Street quiz flanked by colleagues, a minister has insisted.
The image, reported by the Sunday Mirror, showed a screen with the Prime Minister sitting in front of a laptop in the No 10 library, while one of his colleagues is draped in tinsel.
The event happened on December 15, the Sunday Mirror reported. Downing Street said the Conservative Party leader had “briefly” taken part “virtually” in the quiz.
The festive event is said to have taken place only three days before an alleged Christmas party in No 10, which is currently being investigated by Cabinet Secretary Simon Case.
“That picture… I have had emails from constituents because the hype around parties that was going on in the last week and the week before made it sound sort of completely different,” Nadhim Zahawi, the Education Secretary, told Sky News.
“Actually I think people will look at that picture today… and will think hold on a second, he is on a virtual call, no alcohol, thanking his staff for 10 minutes before he goes back to work, is that really a terrible crime?
“What do we see in that picture? We see a Prime Minister on a virtual quiz night for 10 to 15 minutes to thank his staff who, by the way, had no choice but to come in every single day, sitting in his office with the two people who are closest working with him. Many people would have had similar Zoom quiz nights around the country.
Mr Zahawi doubled down on his defence of the Prime Minister in an interview with the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, adding: “On a virtual call, on a Zoom meeting, thanking his team… There’s no drink here, I don’t think there’s a rule against recognising Christmas with tinsel or a hat.”
