New Allegra tape headache for Boris: No10 braces for fresh embarrassment amid fears ex-spokeswoman was questioned about the PM’s private life in ANOTHER excerpt from Partygate tape that could be screened in days
- Allegra Stratton’s now-infamous mock press conference was filmed in December last year
- It forced PM into humiliating Commons apology, led to Ms Stratton’s tearful doorstep resignation and contributed to loss of 23,000 Tory majority at Thursday’s North Shropshire by-election
- Former and current No 10 staff fear further damning tapes, including embarrassing material for PM, might also be in circulation
- Source told MoS that the recorded sessions included mock questions aimed at Ms Stratton referring to ‘mistresses’ and ‘love children’ of Mr Johnson
Officials at 10 Downing Street are said to be in a ‘state of panic’ over further recordings of Boris Johnson‘s former spokeswoman Allegra Stratton that include her responses to questions about the Prime Minister’s personal life.
Ms Stratton’s now-infamous mock press conference, filmed in December last year, showed Downing Street staff joking about holding a Christmas party in No 10 which ‘was not socially distanced’ – after a week of denials that any party had taken place.
It forced Mr Johnson into a humiliating Commons apology, led to Ms Stratton’s tearful doorstep resignation and contributed to the loss of the 23,000 Tory majority at Thursday’s North Shropshire by-election.
Officials at 10 Downing Street are said to be in a ‘state of panic’ over further recordings of Boris Johnson’s former spokeswoman Allegra Stratton that include her responses to questions about the Prime Minister’s personal life. Above, Allegra Stratton in the mock press conference that led to her resignation. The former spokeswoman has ‘gone to ground’
Ms Stratton’s now-infamous mock press conference forced Mr Johnson into a humiliating Commons apology, led to Ms Stratton’s tearful doorstep resignation and contributed to the loss of the 23,000 Tory majority at Thursday’s North Shropshire by-election
But former and current No 10 staff fear that further damning tapes, including embarrassing material for the Prime Minister, might also be in circulation.
A source told The Mail on Sunday that the recorded sessions included mock questions aimed at Ms Stratton referring to ‘mistresses’ and ‘love children’ of Mr Johnson.
The source said: ‘Allegra is of course well aware she was asked more than just the one question we have all seen.
‘She is feeling very anxious and has totally gone to ground, she is speaking to hardly anyone.
‘She and her former colleagues in Downing Street have convinced themselves they know the source of the leak.
‘They believe that a confidentiality agreement has been breached.
‘They are living in fear every day that the rest of the questions put to her will come out, because they know they were filmed.
‘Any further breach would be in the public interest, so they feel they cannot stop it. They are just waiting like sitting ducks. To say they are on tenterhooks is an understatement.’
Above, Ms Stratton announces her resignation in early December. Former and current No 10 staff fear that further damning tapes, including embarrassing material for the Prime Minister, might also be in circulation. A source told The Mail on Sunday that the recorded sessions included mock questions aimed at Ms Stratton referring to ‘mistresses’ and ‘love children’ of Mr Johnson
The source added: ‘The worst could be yet to come. Other mock scenarios included fictional questions about the mistresses of Boris and his love children.
‘No 10 will need to brace themselves. They are absolutely s******* themselves about what else is around – and Allegra is too.
‘She knows what was asked and how she answered.
‘That was not a failing on the part of the teams involved in the process – they would not be doing their jobs properly if they hadn’t worked out what the most difficult questions were likely to be and prepared for them.
The source added: ‘The worst could be yet to come. Other mock scenarios included fictional questions about the mistresses of Boris and his love children. No 10 will need to brace themselves. They are absolutely s******* themselves about what else is around – and Allegra is too’
The Dec 22 rehearsal was circulated to nine people working in Downing St who were tasked to scrutinise Ms Stratton’s performance in front of the cameras. The footage was obtained by ITV and aired on ITN news. Mr Johnson said he was ‘furious to see that clip’ and asked the Cabinet Secretary Simon Case (above) to ‘establish all the facts and report back as soon as possible’. Mr Case stepped aside after it emerged an event was held in his own office last December
‘But it just goes to show what a ridiculous, self-defeating plan it was from the start.’
At the time of the 2020 video, Ms Stratton was gearing up to become a White House-style spokeswoman to lead daily press briefings on behalf of the Prime Minister.
It was a job she seemed suited for but it never materialised as the television briefings were axed. Ms Stratton became the Government’s COP26 spokeswoman instead.
Ms Stratton was filmed joking that she ‘went home’ when asked by a Downing Street special adviser about the possibility that a Christmas Party had taken place.
The December 22 rehearsal was circulated the next day to nine people working in Downing Street who were tasked to scrutinise Ms Stratton’s performance in front of the cameras. The footage was obtained by ITV and aired on ITN news.
Mr Johnson said that he was ‘furious to see that clip’ and asked the Cabinet Secretary Simon Case to ‘establish all the facts and report back as soon as possible’.
Mr Case had to step aside after it emerged an event had been held in his own office last December.
Another source added: ‘It didn’t take the No 10 lot very long to establish one very alarming fact – that there are more tapes just waiting to come out.’