THE cost of a boozy Brexit party held at Number 10 as Covid was emerging has finally been revealed following a lengthy court fight.
A freedom of information request asking about drinks served at Boris Johnson’s bash on January 31, 2020, to celebrate the moment the UK left the EU, had been blocked by civil servants who argued the public interest was not strong enough.
But after campaigners took the case to an Information Tribunal and won, documents now show guests at No 10 guzzled their way through 117 bottles of Gusbourne Blanc de Blancs 2014, a sparkling wine that is sold for around £65 a bottle, according to The Mirror.
On top of that, 10 bottles of white wine from the Chapel Down vineyard in Kent – which cost around £16 each – were consumed. Those who preferred red were treated to 11 bottles of Italian Valpolicella, at around £12 a bottle.
Just a few weeks after the event, the UK went into lockdown on March 23.
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All the wine came from the taxpayer-funded UK Government wine cellar.
A government statement said: “The Government wine cellar generate revenues ... to ensure minimal cost to the taxpayer.”
Carol Vorderman, who has been vocal about the behaviour of the UK Government during the pandemic, said she was "beyond fuming" about the bill.
Last year, former prime minister Johnson quit as a Tory MP after the Privileges Committee found he misled Parliament over lockdown-breaking parties at Downing Street.
Johnson said he was quitting because he was “bewildered and appalled” at the Privileges Committee’s investigation into him.
He was replaced by Conservative MP Steven Tuckwell following a by-election.
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