Sheffield Council chief executive Kate Josephs held lockdown-breaking leaving do - as she left Covid taskforce team

by 24britishtvJan. 14, 2022, 7 p.m. 65
-

Sheffield Council boss Kate Josephs said she was "truly sorry" for her involvement in the event, which took place on December 17, 2020 - the same day as the reported Cabinet Office 'Christmas quiz' was held which involved Cabinet Secretary Simon Case. The two events were separate from each other.

Her statement was posted on Twitter minutes before the Daily Telegraph published details of the event, which is reported to have been attended by "dozens" of officials from the Covid-19 taskforce which Mrs Josephs had led as director-general and involved the consumption of alcohol.The events of the leaving do will form part of civil servant Sue Gray's expanding investigation into a series of lockdown-breaking parties in Government.

Mrs Josephs wrote: "On the evening of 17 December, I gathered with colleagues that were at work that day, with drinks, in our office in the Cabinet Office, to mark my leaving the civil service.

"The specific facts of this event will be considered in the context of the Cabinet Office investigation. I did not attend any events at 10 Downing Street.

"I am grateful for the ongoing support of colleagues and partners and need now to ask that people allow the Cabinet Office to complete its investigation."

The event came 24 hours before the Downing Street Christmas party, which sparked the resignation of Boris Johnson's spokesperson Allegra Stratton late last year after video emerged of her joking about the event.

At the time of the event London had just entered Tier Three restrictions, with people banned from mixing indoors with anyone outside their household or support bubble.

On the day of the party, the Government tweeted official guidance stating: “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."

When she was interviewed by The Yorkshire Post in February, Mrs Josephs said she had led "a pretty small team of incredibly committed civil servants" on the taskforce. She described her role as pulling together the work being done on Covid-19 policies by many different government departments and taking the lead on set-piece moments like the presentation by the Prime Minister of 'roadmaps' describing a path out of lockdown.

She said of her time on the taskforce: "History and hindsight will judge all sorts of things about this last period but what I've taken from it is a lot of people across the whole system working really, really hard to do the best they can. I can't think of a better way to have finished my 20 year career."

He said: “To be honest I need to express my deep disappointment – people will rightly feel angry and let down. I get that completely.

“After everything that Sheffield has been through during the pandemic, this is news that we did not want to receive.

-

Related Articles

HOT TRENDS

Amorim latest: Release clause, style of play & Liverpool stance

by 24britishtvMarch 29, 2024, 11 a.m.2
HOT TRENDS

Christopher Nolan to get knighthood as 'Oppenheimer' opens in Japan

by 24britishtvMarch 29, 2024, 11 a.m.2
HOT TRENDS

50 Cent Denies Daphne Joy Sexual & Physical Abuse Allegations

by 24britishtvMarch 29, 2024, 3 a.m.2
HOT TRENDS

50 Cent Denies Ex Daphne Joy’s Rape and Abuse Allegations

by 24britishtvMarch 29, 2024, 2 a.m.2
HOT TRENDS

Stephen Bear to pay £27k over illegal sex tape of Georgia Harrison

by 24britishtvMarch 29, 2024, 1 a.m.2
HOT TRENDS

Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter: The verdict - is it Yeehaw or No Ma'am?

by 24britishtvMarch 29, 2024, midnight2
HOT TRENDS

Everything to know on ITV courtroom drama The Twelve starring Sam Neill

by 24britishtvMarch 29, 2024, midnight2
HOT TRENDS

Everything to know on ITV courtroom drama The Twelve starring Sam Neill

by 24britishtvMarch 28, 2024, 11 p.m.2
HOT TRENDS

FA charges Tonali over alleged betting rules breaches

by 24britishtvMarch 28, 2024, 11 p.m.2
HOT TRENDS

Isle of Man closer to assisted dying legalisation

by 24britishtvMarch 28, 2024, 10 p.m.2
HOT TRENDS

Watch: Comedian Ed Gamble in the hot dog house over tour poster

by 24britishtvMarch 28, 2024, 10 p.m.2
HOT TRENDS

Fallen 'Crypto King' Sam Bankman-Fried gets 25 years for fraud

by 24britishtvMarch 28, 2024, 9:20 p.m.2
HOT TRENDS

Two people dead due to Storm Nelson

by 24britishtvMarch 28, 2024, 7 p.m.2
HOT TRENDS

Assisted dying: what are the laws in UK and what changes are proposed?

by 24britishtvMarch 28, 2024, 7 p.m.2
HOT TRENDS

Sam Bankman-Fried live updates: 'Crypto King' sentenced to 25 years prison

by 24britishtvMarch 28, 2024, 6 p.m.2
HOT TRENDS

Storm Nelson brings snow in Devon raising fears of Easter travel chaos

by 24britishtvMarch 28, 2024, 6 p.m.2
HOT TRENDS

Could assisted dying be coming to Scotland?

by 24britishtvMarch 28, 2024, 4 p.m.2
HOT TRENDS

Larry Lloyd | 1948 - 2024

by 24britishtvMarch 28, 2024, 4 p.m.2
HOT TRENDS

Happy Easter in a plastic egg •

by 24britishtvMarch 28, 2024, 4 p.m.2