let s go back now to the row over christmas parties in downing street to look at how it all started with a scoop in a newspaper. the daily mirror s political editor broke the news that one gathering was attended by the prime minister and that aides held a second party both at a time when coronavirus regulations were in place. last year, pippa crerrar had another major scoop about borisjohnson s then top aide dominic cummings and his controversial trip to barnard castle. it was a tvjournalist paul brand from itv news who made the christmas parties story even bigger news with his own major exclusive obtaining the video, showing downing street staffjoking about a party that would be breaking the rules. the work of these two reporters has put huge pressure on the prime minister and the video led to an apology in parliament. for the media show on radio 4 this week, i ve been speaking to them both starting with asking pippa how she got the story.
party? what party? the party that number 10 said didn t happen. in the building where boris johnson said tight covid rules were always followed. the party last year that a guest told us had food, drinks and games, and the party we now seem to see downing street staffjoking about a few days later. this was a practice press conference for allegra stratton, just hired as the prime minister s press spokesperson. i ve just seen reports on twitter that there was a downing street christmas party last friday night. do you recognise those reports? i went home! in a video obtained by itv news, laughing in response to questions from an adviser, ed 0ldfield, about the downing street drinks. what s the answer? i don t know! is cheese and wine 0k! at the time when socialising for everyone was meant to be strictly off limits. this fictional party
the party last year that a guest told us had food, drinks and games, and the party we now seem to see downing street staffjoking about a few days later. this was a practice press conference for allegra stratton, just tired at the prime minister s stratton, just hired at the prime minister s press spokesperson. i ve just seen reports on twitter that there was a downing street party last friday night. i went home! in a video obtained by itv news, laughing in response to questions from an adviser, ed 0ldfield, about the downing street drinks. what s the answer? i don t know! is cheese and wine 0k! at a time when socialising for everyone was meant to be strictly off limits. this fictional party was a business meeting. and it was not socially distanced! the fictional party was a business meeting, she says, laughing about the office that was making the rules, not following them. in the real world outside
this is bbc news, the headlines: the kremlin has described a virtual summit between the us and russian leaders as frank and businesslike. president biden warned of severe economic consequences in the event of a russian invasion of ukraine. president putin blamed provocative actions by ukraine and nato for the heightened tensions. a video has emerged showing senior downing street staffjoking about holding a christmas party in number 10 a year ago a party they continue to publicly deny ever happened. the video shows a mock downing street news conference, hosted by the prime minister s then press secretary allegra stratton. a saudi man suspected of involvement in the murder of the saudi journalist jamal khashoggi has been arrested at a paris airport. he faces extradition to turkey. mr khashog ji, was a prominent critic of the saudi regime and wrote for the washington post.
the building where boris johnson said tight covid rules were always followed. the party last year that a guest told us had food, drinks and games, and the party we now seem to see downing street staffjoking about a few days later. this was a practice press conference for allegra stratton, just hired as the prime minister s press spokesperson. i ve just seen reports on twitter that there was a downing street party last friday night. i went home! in a video obtained by itv news, laughing in response to questions from an adviser, ed oldfield, about the downing street drinks. what s the answer? i don t know! is cheese and wine ok! at a time when socialising for everyone was meant to be strictly off limits. this fictional party was a business meeting. and it was not socially distanced! the fictional party was a business meeting, she says, laughing about the office