Inside ‘Weinzeit’ Partygate photo of Boris Johnson – from the groaning liquor table to the red box

Leaked images show Boris Johnson appearing to raise a toast, with eight people standing close together and a nearby table overloaded with alcohol and snacks

Boris Johnson’s partygate hangover has deepened after bombshell footage showed him raising a glass of fizz during a lockdown.

The Prime Minister was not fined by Scotland Yard for the farewell party for his spinner Lee Cain on November 13, 2020 – but insiders have claimed others were.

The photos obtained from ITV Newsare putting questions to the Metropolitan Police and threatening to derail Mr Johnson’s attempts to overcome the row over lockdown parties that has brought his premiership to the brink of collapse.

Mr Johnson had plunged the country into a second lockdown on November 5 due to rising Covid cases.

The leaked images show Mr Johnson appearing to raise a toast with eight people standing close together, as well as the unidentified photographer.

Sources previously claimed he instigated the event, gathering staff around the table and pouring drinks.

The prime minister’s red ministerial box – which contains high-level government papers for his attention – can be seen on a chair in front of him.

A nearby table is groaning with alcohol, including bottles of wine, cava, and gin, as well as snacks, party cups, and what appears to be a takeaway from Indian restaurant Dishoom.

A bottle of hand sanitizer can be seen in the center of the table.

The picture is understood to have been taken at the press office in Downing Street, where staff were holding “wine time” on Fridays during the pandemic.

Sources said the PM has encouraged aid workers to “let off steam” despite a lockdown ban on indoor socializing.

The regular event was so popular that staff invested in a £142 drinks cooler to keep their bottles of white wine, prosecco and beer chilled.

The Mirror published images of a 34 bottle cooler delivered to Downing Street on December 11th 2020

The drink sale on November 13 was investigated as part of the force’s Partygate investigation and fines were issued for an event that day.

But there was also another meeting at Boris Johnson’s No 11 flat that day. Scotland Yard has declined to confirm which events have resulted in penalties.

Mr Cain said he would step down on November 11 – having been proposed for a promotion just 24 hours earlier – following reports of a power struggle in No 10.

Former adviser Dominic Cummings also left the Prime Minister’s top team dramatically.

There had reportedly been a fiery showdown between the three men on November 13, which ended with Mr Johnson ordering them to “get out and never come back”.

But a source with knowledge of the conversation bluntly told the Mirror that the descriptions of the events were “horse**t”.

And we got a picture of Mr Cain cracking a joke with the Prime Minister while both were wearing Mr Johnson’s ‘Get Brexit Done’ boxing gloves.

The photos, believed to have been taken around 7pm, appear to show Mr Johnson wearing the same tie as the leaked images.

Around 5pm, Mr Cummings was seen dramatically exiting No 10 through the front door with his belongings in a cardboard box.

He was pictured standing on Whitehall as he departed.

Downing Street declined to comment on the images ahead of the release of Sue Gray’s long-awaited account of the Partygate scandal.

The official plans to publish her findings on Wednesday.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps tried to defend the Prime Minister, saying his red ministerial box showed he was “clearly not” celebrating.

“It looks to me like on his way out of the office he goes downstairs and thanks the staff and raises a glass and doesn’t think he recognizes it as a party,” Mr Shapps said.