Allegra Stratton became the first casualty of the Christmas party scandal engulfing the British Government when she stepped down from her top post and tearfully apologised for her actions.
Her resignation came less than 24 hours after a leaked video recorded in Downing Street showed her laughing and joking about an alleged lockdown-breaking festive gathering.
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he as “furious” after seeing the clip and ordered an internal investigation to find out if the party took place last December while Tier 3 restrictions were in place, prohibiting social gatherings. But despite his public comments, MPs from across the political spectrum have warned that public trust in the government has waned and the Prime Minister is facing calls to resign.
Who is Allegra Stratton?
The former journalist was hired by the government in October 2020 to lead planned daily televised press briefings.
Political journalists have the opportunity to report on two government briefings each day, but they take place behind closed doors. However, the briefings are on the record, meaning that journalists are able to quote the spokesperson directly for articles.
Downing Street's plan was to have Ms Stratton represent the government to an audience of millions on a daily basis across the main broadcast channels and social media.
The Prime Minister scooped her for the top role to front briefings aimed to offer the public more "direct engagement" with the government.
His vision to set up conferences in a similar style seen at the White House was later scrapped and Ms Stratton was appointed spokeswoman for Cop26.
Six months earlier she had left the media to venture into public relations, taking a public relations role for Chancellor Rishi Sunak.
She was credited for bolstering the chancellor’s social media image and helping him launch the ‘Eat out to help out scheme’ to help restaurants lure back customers amid the Covid pandemic.
Prior to this, she had enjoyed a stellar media career, working as political correspondent at The Guardian before going on to work for the BBC and ITV broadcasters. At the BBC, she was Newsnight's political editor before she worked as national editor for ITV for five years and co-presented Peston on Sunday with Robert Peston.
Ms Stratton, 41, is married to James Forsyth, the political editor of The Spectator, a magazine which Boris Johnson used to edit.
She has strong connections to the Conservative establishment and Mr Sunak served as best man to her husband at her wedding in 2011.
Mr Forsyth works alongside the commissioning editor at the same magazine who is married to Dominic Cummings, the prime minister's former senior adviser.
Why did Allegra Stratton quit?
A leaked video showed Ms Stratton taking part in rehearsal press briefings with other government aides.
The clip obtained by ITV News showed Ms Stratton, adviser Ed Oldfield and other aides joking on December 22 about a supposedly “fictional” Downing Street party on “Friday”.
One aide is heard saying: “It wasn’t a party, it was cheese and wine.”
“Is cheese and wine all right? It was a business meeting,” Ms Stratton replied to laughter.
Ms Stratton then noted “this is recorded”, adding: “This fictional party was a business meeting … and it was not socially distanced.”
On Wednesday, just hours after the Prime Minister said he was “furious” over the video, Ms Stratton resigned in a tearful statement outside her north London home and said she will “regret those remarks for the rest of my days”.
What has the reaction been?
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said he was upset when he saw the leaked footage and said he is “not quite sure” why Ms Stratton quit her role but added it might be because “she was very embarrassed by the video and what happened and the way things looked”.
Following her resignation, pressure is still piling on the government to provide answers about the Christmas party.
Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner said Boris Johnson is “not fit to be Prime Minister” and he is facing growing calls to step down over the affair.
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
The view from The National
Getting there
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Tbilisi from Dh1,025 return including taxes
BRAZIL SQUAD
Alisson (Liverpool), Daniel Fuzato (Roma), Ederson (Man City); Alex Sandro (Juventus), Danilo (Juventus), Eder Militao (Real Madrid), Emerson (Real Betis), Felipe (Atletico Madrid), Marquinhos (PSG), Renan Lodi (Atletico Madrid), Thiago Silva (PSG); Arthur (Barcelona), Casemiro (Real Madrid), Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa), Fabinho (Liverpool), Lucas Paqueta (AC Milan), Philippe Coutinho (Bayern Munich); David Neres (Ajax), Gabriel Jesus (Man City), Richarlison (Everton), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Willian (Chelsea).
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Wenger's Arsenal reign in numbers
1,228 - games at the helm, ahead of Sunday's Premier League fixture against West Ham United.
704 - wins to date as Arsenal manager.
3 - Premier League title wins, the last during an unbeaten Invincibles campaign of 2003/04.
1,549 - goals scored in Premier League matches by Wenger's teams.
10 - major trophies won.
473 - Premier League victories.
7 - FA Cup triumphs, with three of those having come the last four seasons.
151 - Premier League losses.
21 - full seasons in charge.
49 - games unbeaten in the Premier League from May 2003 to October 2004.
Profile of Udrive
Date started: March 2016
Founder: Hasib Khan
Based: Dubai
Employees: 40
Amount raised (to date): $3.25m – $750,000 seed funding in 2017 and a Seed round of $2.5m last year. Raised $1.3m from Eureeca investors in January 2021 as part of a Series A round with a $5m target.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
It
Director: Andres Muschietti
Starring: Bill Skarsgard, Jaeden Lieberher, Sophia Lillis, Chosen Jacobs, Jeremy Ray Taylor
Three stars
RESULTS
6pm: Mazrat Al Ruwayah – Group 2 (PA) $40,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner: AF Alajaj, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
6.35pm: Race of Future – Handicap (TB) $80,000 (Turf) 2,410m
Winner: Global Storm, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
7.10pm: UAE 2000 Guineas – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Azure Coast, Antonio Fresu, Pavel Vashchenko
7.45pm: Business Bay Challenge – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Storm Damage, Patrick Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor
20.20pm: Curlin Stakes – Listed (TB) $100,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Appreciated, Fernando Jara, Doug O’Neill
8.55pm: Singspiel Stakes – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner: Lord Glitters, Daniel Tudhope, David O'Meara
9.30pm: Al Shindagha Sprint – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Meraas, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
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Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
The%20specs
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