Photos emerge of Boris Johnson hosting Christmas quiz last year

UK prime minister Boris Johnson is again coming under intense pressure over his seeming disregard over coronavirus rules.

This time around, photos have emerged of Johnson taking part in a Christmas quiz a year ago as the rest of London was under tier 2 restrictions.

While certain newspapers have been seemingly reluctant to expose the UK prime minister, the Daily Mirror published a photo that showed Johnson reading questions at a staff Christmas quiz in Downing Street on December 15 2020.

At the time of the photo Londoners were abiding by tier 2 restrictions.

This meant that people were not allowed to meet socially or mix with individuals outside their household within indoor public settings.

Government guidelines of the time specifically addressed the issue of Christmas parties.

“Although there are exemptions for work purposes, you must not have a work Christmas lunch or party, where that is a primarily social activity and is not otherwise permitted by the rules in your tier.”

A spokesperson for Downing Street has insisted that the party followed the rules:

“This was a virtual quiz. Downing Street staff were often required to be in the office to work on the pandemic response so those who were in the office for work may have attended virtually from their desks.”

“The prime minister briefly took part virtually in a quiz to thank staff for their hard work throughout the year,” the spokesperson added.

The photo came amid widespread criticism over additional reports that the government held a number of gatherings of the winter period while the rest of the country remained in lockdown.