Sacha Lord is investigating if ‘Downing Street Christmas party’ was paid for by taxpayers’ money

The night time economy advisor for Greater Manchester has submitted a request to reveal if taxpayers’ money was used to fund the infamous ‘Downing Street Christmas party’.

Sacha Lord submitted a Freedom of Information request (FOI) in a bid to investigate how exactly the boozy Christmas party was funded and whether taxpayers were the ones footing the bill. 

Lord shared a copy of the request on Twitter, writing: “A Freedom of Information Request has now been sent to No.10. I want to know who attended these Xmas Parties and if we, the tax payers, paid for all the food and alcohol. They have 20 days to respond.”

He has also demanded to know who attended the alleged gatherings, saying as per ITV News: “I want to know who these people are who were dancing while we were in lockdown, having nibbles, playing Christmas party games and doing Secret Santa, how insensitive is that?”

Claims of an alleged Christmas party in Downing Street on December 18th 2020 arose last week, and were fuelled further by the release of video showing officials laughing about the event, which took place when Greater Manchester was under strict Tier 3 rules.

The video, obtained by ITV News and shot on December 22nd 2020, showed the moment the PMs former advisor Allegra Stratton was quizzed about a rumoured Christmas party, to which she laughed and referenced a ‘business meeting’ with no social distancing.

Following nationwide outrage, Stratton resigned from her post yesterday afternoon and issued a tearful statement, offering her ‘profound apologies’ to the British public and noting she had ‘become a distraction in the fight against the Covid pandemic‘.

Fighting back tears, she said: “My remarks seemed to make light of the rules, rules that people were doing everything to obey.

“That was never my intention… I will regret those remarks for the rest of my days and I offer my profound apologies to all of you at home for them.”

She didn’t confirm whether there had indeed been a party or not – something the PM continues to deny – and instead added: “I understand the anger and frustration that people feel.

“To all of you who lost loved ones, who endured intolerable loneliness, and who struggled with your businesses, I am truly sorry.