The Know Daily - Monday 19 June 2023

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A new pilot programme in North Devon is aiming to stop water pollution before it happens with the help of artificial intelligence. Sensors will be placed in fields and rivers to build a picture of their health and the data will then be combined with satellite imagery of local land use. Using AI, the tech can work out when rivers are most vulnerable to pollution and where incidents might take place.

📹 The Partygate rumbles on

The Met Police has confirmed that the force is “considering” fresh Partygate video footage appearing to show Tory aides drinking, dancing and mocking lockdown rules on 14 December 2020.

Tell me more.
Yesterday, the Sunday Mirror published a 45-second clip which it described as the “first ever Partygate video”. The footage - taken at the Conservative Campaign Headquarters in London - appears to feature at least 24 partygoers, including two people who were included in Boris Johnson’s controversial resignation honours list last week.

Why is this so significant?
This particular event, which was organised by the campaign team of then London Mayor candidate Shaun Bailey (now Lord Bailey), has been reported on since December 2021. Back then, The Times alleged that “people wore festive hats”, Bailey “received a Lego set as a Christmas present” and revellers “damaged a door”.

A photo obtained by the Daily Mirror was investigated by the Met last year, but no fines were issued and insufficient evidence of lawbreaking was found. “The photo by itself is not sufficient evidence on which to assess that an offence had been committed,” the Met’s statement said.

The “bombshell” clip is important because not only does it appear to be the first video evidence of the Bailey party, but it’s the first Partygate video full stop.

What has the response been?
Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK - a group representing people who lost a loved one during the pandemic - expressed disgust and called for the Met to reinvestigate the gathering.

“Revellers openly mocked the rules the British people followed,” said Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner. “The Tories think it’s one rule for them and one rule for everyone else.”

Yesterday morning, levelling up secretary Michael Gove apologised for the aides’ behaviour, describing it as “indefensible”. But a spokesperson for Bailey told The Guardianthat the fresh footage was “an old story”, adding: “the matter is closed”.

What next?
The timing of the clip’s release is significant because it comes just days after a year-long inquiry from the Commons privileges committee found that Johnson deliberately misled parliament over rule-breaking parties in No. 10.

A vote by MPs is taking place later today over whether or not to endorse the committee’s report, with reports suggesting that some plan to swerve the vote and abstain.

It is expected that the Commons will approve the recommendations, which will strip Johnson of his right to a parliamentary pass. PM Rishi Sunak has declined to say whether he will be present for the vote and has not given his view on the proceedings.