As brazen Tories enjoyed wine and cheese in the build up to last Christmas, NHS frontline workers kept the country going – and now some have reacted to that infuriating rule-breaking photo

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‘Raucous’ Xmas party thrown by Tory aides in lockdown

Outraged NHS workers have hit out at selfish Tories by sharing photos of exactly what they were doing last December as they sunk wine and nibbled on their buffet.

The Mirror’s incredible image showed 24 raucous people crowded together in a room in the party’s Westminster HQ for an event organised by Shaun Bailey’s mayoral campaign.

The leaked snap of festive get-together has caused widespread anger across the nation- and those at the heart of the Covid fight have responded with some brutal digs.

The event, organised by the top Tory’s mayoral campaign, took place on December 14 last year when London was in Tier 2.

NHS workers have lashed out by sharing photos of what they were up to on the wards while MPs and aides enjoyed their boozy shindig.

In stark contrast to the shot of the gathering, two frontline workers have have offered up their photos tending to the sick have some harsh words for Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his government.

“Frankly, I’m angry,” said George, who was working on wards disinfecting and scrubbing Covid patients’ rooms in December 2020.

“Whilst we were having to tell people they couldn’t come into the ward to visit their loved ones, others were partying it up at work.

“We couldn’t even sit together on our breaks due to the risk.”

George will be returning to the ward during the holidays this year too, with Omicron, the new Covid-19 variant, threatening to overwhelm the NHS.

“I’m doing a 12 hour-shift on the ward on Christmas Day and another on Boxing Day,” he said.

When asked what he’d like the PM to do to tackle the situation, the NHS worker added: “Even just taking responsibility would be a start.”

Ed Patrick, who works as an anaesthetist in Warwickshire, has seen the worst of the pandemic, especially in his role keeping Covid patients breathing on ventilators.

He said: “It feels like a big slap in the face for anyone who thought that they were doing the right thing by following the guidelines and trusting the government’s leadership last year.

“Looking at the photo, there’s a feeling that they’d done such hard work over the year and were celebrating.

“Yet I’m sure that everyone in that room is paid more than NHS workers, and none of them have experienced the same trials and tribulations that we have.

“It doesn’t look like anyone in that photo thought that it was a bad idea.

“It’s mind-blowing to think that none of them thought they were doing anything wrong or felt an ounce of shame.”

Mr Bailey dramatically quit as chair of the London Assembly’s police and crime committee in the aftermath.

The image also shows several guests – including billionaire Tory donor Nick Candy – raising glasses of wine while a catered buffet features prominently.

One of the revellers was a senior figure on Boris Johnson’s leadership election campaign.