ANDREW PIERCE: Wine Time Fridays that spilled into a booze culture…
ANDREW PIERCE: Wine Time Fridays that spilled into a booze culture… Drinking sessions were tradition that began at No 10 under David Cameron and were used by staff as prelude to a heading to the pub
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It was, by all accounts, a cherished Downing Street ritual. Every Friday evening, a black wheelie suitcase – hidden in a cupboard in the press office during the week – would be hauled into No 10 by a junior member of staff.
Its weight and the clinking of glass within was the giveaway.
The suitcase could accommodate about six bottles of wine or prosecco, usually purchased from Tesco at Westminster or more discreetly from the Co-op on the Strand, with the proceeds of an office whip-round of between £3 and £4, depending on seniority of contributing officials.
Now, of course, the so-called ‘booze suitcase’ has become synonymous with Partygate and, most notoriously, was spotted being wheeled towards the Prime Minister’s residence on the night before Prince Philip‘s funeral to satisfy thirsty staff attending a leaving party for a senior aide.
Now, of course, the so-called ‘booze suitcase’ has become synonymous with Partygate and, most notoriously, was spotted being wheeled towards the Prime Minister’s residence on the night before Prince Philip’s funeral to satisfy thirsty staff attending a leaving party for a senior aide
But the truth is that ‘Wine Time Fridays’ involving the suitcase were a tradition that began at No 10 under David Cameron and were used by press officers and other staff to ‘pre-drink’ before heading to the pub.
The custom reportedly continued during Theresa May’s tenure and, as we now know, carried on under Boris Johnson – even during lockdown.
When draconian restrictions on socialising were introduced in March 2020, no one in authority, from the PM to the Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, thought to intervene to stop alcohol-fuelled gatherings.
In fact, on December 11, 2020, the press office took delivery of a £142, 34-bottle drinks fridge. At the time, the dangerous Delta variant was spreading fast and London was under Tier 2 restrictions, which prevented people from mixing with other households indoors.
Perhaps that is why senior civil servant Sue Gray has singled out the drinking culture in Downing Street for particular criticism. ‘The excessive consumption of alcohol is not appropriate in a professional workplace at any time,’ she wrote.
When draconian restrictions on socialising were introduced in March 2020, no one in authority, from the PM to the Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, thought to intervene to stop alcohol-fuelled gatherings
Ironically, Boris is not a heavy drinker. During lockdown last year he did ‘Dry January’, swapping his favourite tipple of red wine for soft drinks or alcohol-free lager.
In the summer, he embraced teetotalism again as an act of solidarity with pregnant wife Carrie. He didn’t drink until their daughter Romy was born in December.
But the PM’s periodic abstinence clearly never rubbed off on his officials. A senior source said Wine Time Fridays were a misnomer: ‘Sometimes there was a drink every night, or two or three nights.’ But Friday night was the main event, with Wine Time logged in the electronic calendars of about 50 No 10 staff for between 4pm and 7pm every week.
The source added: ‘There has been a long tradition in the civil service, in local government and across the public sector of people breaking early on Friday to share a drink with colleagues. In hindsight we all know it should have stopped during the lockdown. No one was thinking what it would look like to the outside world.’
Ironically, Boris is not a heavy drinker. During lockdown last year he did ‘Dry January’, swapping his favourite tipple of red wine for soft drinks or alcohol-free lager
Staff in the press office, who reportedly were instrumental in organising both the supplies of booze and the gatherings, have no excuse, however, being deeply immersed in the details of the restrictions that the rest of the country was living with.
In a nod to social distancing, Downing Street staffers would try to meet in the garden in groups of five or six unless it was too wet or too cold. If they were inside they would often play board games and enjoy drinks, cheese and biscuits.
‘I don’t think anyone thought the rules were being broken,’ the No 10 source said. ‘It was a long working day from 6, 7 or 8 in the morning right through to 7pm or 8pm. It was a way to let off steam and they thought it was OK because they were operating in a work bubble.
‘I don’t recall Boris joining in but he would be aware of it if he happened to pass the press office or look out on to the garden on his way to the Downing Street flat. He thought it was a good way for people who were working round the clock to unwind.’
Incidentally, Miss Gray is no stranger to alcohol in the workplace. While on a career break from the civil service in the 1980s, she and her Northern Irish husband bought a pub in the border town of Newry.
A popular landlady, she would refuse to serve customers she thought had had too much and, according to her regulars, brooked no dissent. It seems time has done little to change her view of excessive drinking.
