True cost of Boris Johnson's boozy Brexit bash laid bare following major legal battle

True cost of Boris Johnson's boozy Brexit bash laid bare following major legal battle

Boris Johnson didn't think he broke any Covid rules

GB NEWS
Dimitris Kouimtsidis

By Dimitris Kouimtsidis


Published: 29/01/2024

- 19:09

Two years after the Brexit party, the cost of the drinks from that night have been revealed

The true cost of Boris Johnson's boozy Brexit bash has been revealed following a major legal battle.

Following a two-year legal struggle, a court has forced officials to divulge that the bill for the Brexit bash in No10 was £7,897.


The party took place on January 31, 2020, as the UK finally left the EU, celebrating Brexit "getting done".

Civil servants had tried to block a Freedom of Information (FOI) request about the cost of the drinks, but now a court has forced them to reveal the true number.

Boris Johnson holding a drink

The true cost for the Brexit bash cost almost £8,000

Getty

The Information Commissioner agreed that the public interest in the case was not strong enough.

Campaigners didn't give up however and took the case to an Information Tribunal, which ruled in their favour.

According to the documents shared with the Daily Mirror, guests at the PM's house bought 117 bottles of Gusbourne Blanc de Blancs 2014, that sold for around £65 per bottle.

There were cheaper bottles as well, with 10 bottles of white wine from the Chapel Down vineyard, which sell for around £16 each.

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Brexit celebrations

Brexiteers were celebrating when Britain officially left the EU in January 2020

PA

European wines were also consumed - despite the party being a celebration of leaving the EU - with 11 bottles of the Italian Valpolicella 2017 bought, which sell for around £12 each.

All the wine came from the Government Wine Cellar, which is funded by the taxpayers.

A Government spokesperson said: “This was an official Government reception to mark the departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union.

"Our departure from the EU was an important national moment that delivered on the democratic wishes of the British people.

“The Government Wine Cellar generates revenues as part of our commitment to ensuring that its operation is as self-financing as possible to ensure minimal cost to the taxpayer.”

This comes as major supply problems are expected regarding EU meat and dairy products.

From January 31, extra red tape will be imposed on imports and on April 30, physical checks will start taking place.

According to industry bosses, some suppliers of specialist products will stop importing to Britain because of the extra expense and "huge hassle".

Supply problems are also expected to hit fruit and vegetables, when further controls on fresh produce come into force later this year.

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