Boris Johnson's 'partygate': Timeline of a very British scandal
The "partygate" scandal engulfing Boris Johnson has sparked public outrage that the prime minister was not playing by the rules he set for everyone else.
Here are some of the main allegations against him:
May 20, 2020
Johnson's senior aide Martin Reynolds invites staff "to make the most of the lovely weather and have some socially distanced drinks in the No10 garden this evening".
ITV News, which obtained the emailed invitation, said 40 staff ended up in the garden that evening, eating picnic food and drinking.
Johnson and Carrie both attended, according to several reports, despite some staffers expressing qualms that the gathering breached lockdown rules.
The prime minister later "categorically" denied knowing about the event beforehand or receiving warnings it breached the rules he set for the public.
(Photograph:AFP)
June 19, 2020
Up to 30 staff are said to have attended a party at Downing Street for Johnson's 56th birthday, at a time when social gatherings were only permitted between six people outside.
He is said to have been presented with a Union Jack cake and staff sang "happy birthday" at a party lasting half an hour. Downing Street has insisted the prime minister attended for less than 10 minutes.
It also denied a second claim Johnson and family friends held a separate party inside his flat that evening.
(Photograph:Twitter)
December 14, 2020
Plates of buffet food and drinks were on offer in a photograph revealed by The Times newspaper showing Conservative staff in festive mood at party headquarters.
The party says the gathering was "unauthorised" and disciplined some of those present.
At the time, London was in a regional "tier" of restrictions that had replaced the November lockdown, which banned indoor socialising between households.
(Photograph:Twitter)
December 17, 2020
A social event is alleged to have taken place attended by staff in the Cabinet Office.
Senior civil servant Simon Case, who was initially tasked with investigating other party claims, stepped down over claims that his staff had broken the rules on indoor social mixing.
It was later reported that another event took place in the department on the same day to mark the departure of Kate Josephs, the former head of the Covid taskforce, for which she later apologised.
(Photograph:AFP)
December 18, 2020
Another party was held in Downing Street, according to the Daily Mirror, prompting further government denials.
But a video then obtained by ITV News showed Johnson's then-press secretary Allegra Stratton joking about the event at a mock news conference.
She later resigned, in a tearful public statement.
(Photograph:AFP)
April 16, 2021
Two "boozy" leaving events took place the night before the funeral for Prince Philip, the Queen's husband, while the country was in a period of official mourning, The Daily Telegraph reported.
Johnson was not believed to have been present at the events, at which alcohol was smuggled into Downing Street in a suitcase.
But his former director of communications James Slack, one of those leaving, apologised for the "anger and hurt" caused.
Downing Street later apologised to the Queen.
(Photograph:AFP)