The former Conservative London mayoral candidate has apologised for attending a party with his campaign team at a time of heightened coronavirus restrictions in the capital last year.
Shaun Bailey, who lost to Labour’s Sadiq Khan in London’s mayoral election in May, wrote on Twitter: “I want to apologise unreservedly for attending a gathering held by some of my staff in my campaign office last December.
“I gave a speech to my team to thank them for their efforts, before leaving shortly afterwards.
“It was a serious error of judgement at a time when Londoners were making immense sacrifices to keep us all safe and I regret it wholeheartedly.”
‘Unauthorised social gathering’
It comes after the Daily Mirror published an image of Mr Bailey surrounded by more than 20 people at an event it said was held at the Conservative Party’s headquarters in Westminster on 14 December 2020.
At the time, London was under Tier 2 restrictions that banned the mixing of households indoors.
In the photo, some of those pictured are raising glasses while standing next to a buffet, with others also wearing festive headgear and clothing.
A Conservative Party spokesman said: “Senior CCHQ (Conservative Campaign Headquarters) staff became aware of an unauthorised social gathering in the basement of Matthew Parker Street organised by the Bailey campaign on the evening of 14 December.
“Formal disciplinary action was taken against the four CCHQ staff who were seconded to the Bailey campaign.”
A Bailey campaign spokesperson told the newspaper: “On the evening of 14 December 2020, at the end of the working day, the campaign hosted a post-work event to thank campaign staff for their efforts over the course of the year.
“This was a serious error of judgement…
Source : skynews
