British government minister Michael Gove today described a video showing a party at the ruling Conservative Party headquarters during the 2020 lockdown as “appalling” and apologized to the public.

The video was published by the Mirror newspaper just days after a parliamentary committee ruled that former prime minister Boris Johnson had deliberately misled MPs about the quarantine-breaking parties held in his office during the coronavirus pandemic. .

The 45-second video shows people having fun in December 2020 when British citizens were banned from gathering indoors to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The video shows people dancing and drinking alcohol. Two of them, who were previously investigated by police after a photo emerged, were praised by Johnson earlier this month in his resignation letter.

“It’s appalling,” Gove, who is housing secretary, told Sky News.

“I think it’s completely unacceptable. I want to sincerely apologize to everyone,” the minister said.

The issue of rule-breaking during the lockdowns helped bring down Johnson, who resigned as prime minister and party leader last year, and still haunts the Tories and current prime minister Rishi Sunak.

On June 9, Johnson also resigned as an MP, nine days before the Privileges Committee — the main disciplinary body for MPs — issued its decision, reigniting both party polarization and popular anger.

Polls show the Conservatives, who have been in power since 2010, are trailing Labor by around 20%. The next elections should be held by the end of 2024.