A former Boris Johnson prime ministerial aide who was dubbed “Party Marty” after arranging a bring-your-own-booze garden party in Downing Street during Covid restrictions has received an honour at Windsor Castle for public service. Martin Reynolds, Johnson’s former principal private secretary, was made a companion of the Order of the Bath at a ceremony led by the Princess Royal. Reynolds was included in Johnson’s resignation honours list announced in June 2023.
In May 2020 Reynolds had sent an invite during lockdown to about 200 No 10 staff inviting them to enjoy the “lovely weather” with some “ socially distanced drinks in the No 10 garden this evening ”, adding: “Please join us from 6pm and bring your own booze!” A number of people were later fined for attending the event in breach of lockdown rules. The Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice (CBFFJ) campaign group has called the honour an insult to the memories of those who died, saying Reynolds had “failed in serving the public” and that his “mistakes should cost him this honour”. Appearing before the UK Covid-19 inquiry in October 2023, Reynolds apologised “unreservedly” when asked about the party, saying he was “deeply sorry” for “my part in those events and for the email message which went out that day”.
He said because news of the party did not emerge until “about 15 months later”, he did not believe it had a major impact on the public during the pandemic at the time. “So .