A prospective peer who is facing a further police probe over a lockdown-breaking party should "look in the mirror and decide whether or not they should accept such awards", an ex-minister has said.
The Tory former London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey was nominated to join the House of Lords by Boris Johnson in his controversial resignation honours list - despite he and his campaign team being pictured at a so-called "jingle and mingle party" in Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) at the height of the pandemic.
Politics live: Tory 'jingle and mingle' lockdown party to be investigated again
Further questions were raised about his appointment after a video of the event surfaced in the Daily Mirror, showing some of his staff - including Tory aide Ben Mallet, who was handed an OBE in Mr Johnson's list - dancing, drinking and failing to socially distance in December 2020.
Now the Metropolitan Police has confirmed it is re-opening its investigation into the gathering.
Mr Bailey has previously apologised "unreservedly" for the event, saying the video - in which he does not appear - had made him "very upset".
And a Conservative Party spokesman said formal disciplinary action had already been taken against the four CCHQ staff who were seconded to the campaign.
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