Manchester club guru’s bid to reveal if taxpayers’ cash was spent on Downing Street ‘Christmas parties’

A Manchester night-time tsar has petitioned Downing Street to reveal who attended Christmas parties last year - and if taxpayers’ money was spent on food and drink.

The Mirror published claims last week that several dozen people attended ‘boozy’ Christmas gatherings and played party games at Downing Street on 18 December 2020.

Sacha Lord, night-time economy adviser for Greater Manchester, has now submitted a Freedom of Information request to the Government to try to force it to reveal more details about the get-togethers, which allegedly occurred while parts of the country (including London and Manchester) were facing tough Covid restrictions, banning socialising under the tier system.

Mr Lord tweeted a copy of the request on Tuesday, adding: “ I want to know who attended these Xmas parties and if we, the taxpayers, paid for all the food and alcohol.”

By law, FOI requests have to receive a response within 20 working days, though various exemptions can be applied within the legislation.

Warehouse Project and Parklife festival co-founder Mr Lord also told TalkRadio: “I am so angry about this, I am fuming. We know on Christmas week, we could not see friends, family and loved ones. My industry was shut down and I understand that but at the same time there was a Christmas party in Downing Street... ”

He also branded the parties ‘insulting’ at a time when the hospitality industry in Manchester was shut down under the tightest tier 3 restrictions.

Mr Johnson said all Covid rules had been followed in Downing Street when grilled about the claims at Prime Minister’s Question Time last week.

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