Government’s ethics chief took karaoke machine to ‘excessive’ lockdown party

The Government’s then-ethics chief provided a karaoke machine for a lockdown event where one individual was sick and there was “minor altercation” between two others.

Sue Gray’s report revealed that employees partied from June 18 2020 until the early hours of the following morning during the “second phase” of a leaving do for a former No 10 official.

She said there was “excessive alcohol consumption” by some at the impromptu gathering and even a clash between two people present.

Helen MacNamara, then-deputy cabinet secretary with responsibility for propriety and ethics, attended for “part of the evening and provided a karaoke machine”, the report said.

Ms MacNamara, who now works for the Premier League, was fined last month by the Metropolitan Police for her part in the leaving do and issued an apology for her “error of judgment”.

Ms Gray’s interim report published in January first revealed an event to mark the departure of a No 10 private secretary in June 2020.

While the departing aide has not been named by Ms Gray, the Telegraph has reported that it was former home affairs adviser Hannah Young, who left Downing Street to become deputy consul general in New York.

In her full report published on Wednesday, Ms Gray recorded how Boris Johnson’s then-private secretary Martin Reynolds was warned by then-director of communications Lee Cain of the “rather substantial” risk for No 10 if a leaving event was organised.

However, the event went ahead, with 25 people attending the formal first part of the leaving bash and more joining online by Zoom, according to the 37-page written report.

Alcohol was available and Stuart Glassborow, deputy principal private secretary to the Prime Minister – who is reportedly due to leave his position this summer – gave a speech.

Ms Gray said a second phase of the event, starting at around 7.40pm, saw people moving into the waiting area outside the private office of Sir Mark Sedwill, who was the cabinet secretary, at 70 Whitehall.

Not all those at the first stage joined the second phase.

WhatsApp messages show pizza was ordered and Ms Gray said security door logs indicated Mr Reynolds and Mr Glassborow joined the event at around 8pm.

Ms Gray wrote: “Some brought pizza and prosecco and they were followed by others, over the next couple of hours.

“The event lasted for a number of hours. There was excessive alcohol consumption by some individuals.

“One individual was sick. There was a minor altercation between two other individuals.

“The event broke up in stages with a few members of staff leaving from around 21:00 and the last member of staff, who stayed to tidy up, leaving at 03:13.”

The document said that during the party, Sir Mark returned from a meeting and saw those gathered in the waiting area.

“He stayed for a short time and before leaving for another meeting he gave permission for the use of his office for a short time,” Ms Gray said.