This BBC explainer dissects the lastest on the Downing Street lockdown parties

As much as they must want people to move on from the story, the row surrounding gatherings at Downing Street with drinks, party games and quizzes is still stalking the government.

A spokesperson has now categorically stated that whatever happened there last December, while parties were illegal, there were no rules broken and there definitely wasn’t a party.

The BBC’s Ros Atkins and Michael Cox have compared the official and unofficial lines, and it’s five minutes of wonderfully brutal fact-checking.

We’re a week on from learning about the Christmas party at No.10 last December. We’ve looked at all the different government responses to the reports and how they compare with what we know about the event. pic.twitter.com/vWBxhO6FQz

— Ros Atkins (@BBCRosAtkins) December 7, 2021

It’s available here with subtitles.

The transition from Boris Johnson’s spokesperson insists “There was not a party at Number 10.” to The party took place when Covid rules made such gatherings illegal. might be the best summary dismissal of a Downing Street claim we’ve ever heard.

The piece has been very well received.

Ros Atkins' explainers very often go viral. What I love about them is there are no bells and whistles. No twee music, no sneering tone, no over-the-top graphics. Just solid reporting and excellent scripting, presented in a no-nonsense manner that doesn't speak down to the viewer. https://t.co/rUnUYDx8QY

— Barry Malone (@malonebarry) December 6, 2021

Ros Atkins brilliantly dissecting yet another scandal from this shitshow of a government https://t.co/qBGw3SAXCj

— Giles Paley-Phillips (@eliistender10) December 7, 2021

#DowningStChristmasParty
It happened. No rules were broken.
It didn't happen No rules were broken. #SchrödingersParty https://t.co/PdIu6ma8y1

— Hugh Sykes (@HughSykes) December 6, 2021

Facts. Scrutiny. Reporting.

Bravo 👏 https://t.co/JALxNCMLhw

— Anna Turley 💙 (@annaturley) December 6, 2021

keep holding them to account https://t.co/wo11RByIB4

— Max Rushden 💙 (@maxrushden) December 6, 2021

It's hard to over-praise this. In a journalistic landscape that trivialises most politics and makes little attempt at deep explanation or challenging lies, @BBCRosAtkins and his team are performing an outstanding service. https://t.co/TX9ThvHf9Z

— Russ Jones (@RussInCheshire) December 7, 2021

This shows very clearly the multiple ways in which the government and Boris Johnson keep lying and lying and lying. https://t.co/HgKigOvzJ9

— Rachel Parris (@rachelparris) December 6, 2021

This party isn’t over. Well done Ros, I’m back @gmb Wed – Fri this week and I’ll be asking the same questions. Again and again. https://t.co/PFQ1Gp111j

— Adil Ray OBE (@adilray) December 6, 2021

Finally, Simon Edmonds had reason to doubt the rumours.

I for one think the rumours of a party last Christmas at no.10 are scurrilous and unfounded, when we all know that the people that work there couldn't organise a piss-up in a brewery. https://t.co/WZXxYAsNrf

— Simon Edmonds (@si_edmonds) December 7, 2021

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BBC’s Ros Atkins sums up the No 10 party furore in 4 and a half minutes

Source Ros Atkins Image Screengrab