The UK newspaper published a photo of Prime Minister Johnson at the alleged garden meeting, Reuters reported

LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s Guardian newspaper reported on Sunday that Prime Minister Boris Johnson and more than a dozen other people were drinking wine at the Downing Street headquarters in a May 2020 blockade of COVID-19.

In response, his office said staff meetings were held in the garden that day.

Johnson has received numerous media stories in government offices in recent weeks, including his own, at alleged Christmas parties, violating the COVID-19 blockade last year, and has ordered an investigation.

Reports have upset voters who told the government last year to sacrifice their Christmas events, and as the Omicron variant spreads rapidly, they have a chance to reduce their Christmas plans for a second year.

The photo, published by The Guardian, was reported to be in May 2020, shortly after Johnson was discharged from hospital with COVID-19 in several intensive care units.

Johnson seems to be holding his wife Carrie, his newborn son, and shows two other people at a table on a garden terrace in Downing Street with cheese and wine.

Nearby is another table for four other people, and a short distance away is a larger group standing on the grass around a table with bottles of wine.

Asked about the picture, a Downing Street spokesperson said: “During the summer months, working meetings are often held in the Downing Street garden. This time after the 10th press conference, there were staff meetings.”

“Downing Street is the home of the Prime Minister, as well as his workplace. The Prime Minister’s wife lives at No. 10, so she also uses the garden legitimately.”

The newspaper said the photo was shared with him after Johnson’s office denied that a social event had taken place last week, saying Downing Street staff were working in the garden in the evenings and evenings.

That day, Health Secretary Matt Hancock gave a press conference urging people to abide by the rules and join groups to take advantage of the good weather over the weekend, he said.