‘Indefensible’: Michael Gove apologises for Tory HQ Partygate video

But levelling up secretary insists Shaun Bailey and Ben Mallet should keep their honours

Michael Gove has apologised for a new Partygate video that shows Conservative officials dancing and laughing as they broke Covid lockdown rules, deeming their actions terrible" and indefensible".

The video, obtained by the Mirror, shows members of staff drinking alcohol at the gathering in London on 14 December 2020, and mocking lockdown rules the public were following at the time. At least 24 people were in attendance, including Shaun Bailey - made a peer in Boris Johnson's resignation honours list - whose campaign team organised the event. He left before the video was taken.