Former London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey has apologised “unreservedly” after a video emerged of his staff partying in lockdown.

The Tory also said it was for “others to decide” about whether he should lose the peerage offered to him by former prime minister Boris Johnson.

Mr Bailey said he was “very upset” to see the footage of workers on his mayoral campaign dancing and mingling on 14 December 2020 while London was in Tier 2 of COVID restrictions.

Both him and Tory aide Ben Mallet, who was handed an OBE in Mr Johnson’s resignation honours, attended the gathering.

MPs debating Boris Johnson partygate report – politics latest

Mr Bailey – who was running to replace Sadiq Khan in the 2021 contest – had previously been pictured at the event but was not seen in the most recent footage.

Speaking to reporters in Westminster on Monday, Mr Bailey said he had never seen the video and that the event “obviously turned into something once I left and I didn’t realise that”.

Liz Truss says lettuce live stream was ‘puerile’ and claims of dressing similar to Thatcher are ‘lazy thinking’

Partygate video: Who is in the footage of the Conservative Christmas party during COVID lockdown?

Boris Johnson’s fate to be decided by MPs following damning partygate report – as Sunak ‘expected to skip’ debate

Asked if he thought the footage was acceptable, he replied: “It isn’t – I’m not saying it is for a second.”

And pressed on whether the British public deserved an apology, he said: “Unreservedly – I apologised then and I apologise now.

“It was a staff team that were given to me, but the buck stops with me.”

The footage, obtained by The Mirror, showed Mr Bailey’s staff partying while Tier 2 restrictions were in place.

The Mirror previously released a photo from the party, which was subsequently investigated by police. No further action was taken at the time due to lack of evidence.

However, the police have said they are “considering” the newly-revealed video.

COVID rules at the time said there should be no mixing of households indoors, apart from support bubbles, while only six people were allowed to meet – socially distanced – outside.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

In total, 24 people were at the party at Tory campaign HQ – more than the number allowed at a wake.

In the video, one man is heard asking: “Are you filming this?”, while another responds: “It’s for party, erm, party use.”

There has been further outrage at the fact that Mr Bailey was given a peerage in Mr Johnson’s controversial resignation honours list.

Meanwhile, Mr Mallet, who helped run Zac Goldsmith’s campaign to be London mayor in 2016, is seen in the video laughing with colleagues, and a voice is then heard saying: “What do you think of this?”

Asked whether Mr Bailey should give up his peerage in light of the video of his staff, he replied: “That will be for others to decide – for me, it has been a great privilege and I would like to keep doing work for the rest of the country and London as well.”

The video has also been criticised by a number of Conservatives, including Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove, who admitted it was “terrible” and “completely out of order”.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

Read more:
Analysis: Sunak needs to clear the air
Starmer says Johnson should be banned from parliament

On Sophy Ridge on Sunday, Mr Gove was repeatedly pressed on whether it was appropriate for Mr Bailey and Mr Mallet to have been given honours.

The cabinet minister said the current rules – that a resigning prime minister can honour who they want – should not be interfered with.

He added that a debate on changing the rules was “well worth having”, but that “procedure” should be followed for the moment and those who broke restrictions should still be given gongs.

Related posts:

Boris Johnson defends taking plane to G7 summit – as climate change set to be high on the agenda Conservative MP and former cabinet minister James Brokenshire dies aged 53 Minister says it’s important to have ‘rich mix’ in Lords amid ‘cash for honours’ claims Sadiq Khan denies demanding Dame Cressida sack condemned officers or face suspension Labour to force emergency vote on workers’ rights after P&O shock sackings Energy companies ‘playing fast and loose’ as they double direct debits, Martin Lewis tells MPs Nandy visits picket line despite Starmer’s instruction frontbenchers should not attend ‘I was disappointed’: Rishi Sunak suggests Matt Hancock’s I’m A Celeb appearance is not ‘noble’ Tory MP admits ‘mistake’ after being caught on video telling activist to ‘go back to Bahrain’ Hunt insists reducing inflation ‘remains government’s focus’ amid global banking volatility Rishi Sunak releases his tax return after bowing to pressure How to make sure you’re ready for ID requirements at local elections