Shaun Bailey steps down from second Assembly role amid ‘partygate’ scandal

Shaun Bailey has resigned as chair of a second London Assembly committee on Tuesday as the “partygate” saga rumbles on.

The former London mayoral candidate stepped down from his role as chair of the Assembly’s police and crime committee last month after it emerged he attended a party thrown by his campaign staff during lockdown in December 2020.

Sources at City Hall have on Tuesday confirmed Mr Bailey has now also resigned from his role as chair of the Assembly’s economy committee.

It comes as the Conservative Party leadership faces growing backlash after details emerged this week of a “bring-your-own-booze” party held at 10 Downing Street in May 2020 when the country was still under strict lockdown restrictions.

At least eight separate parties are alleged to have been held by members of the Government between May and December 2020, in addition to the December 14 party held by Shaun Bailey’s campaign team that led to four members of his staff being disciplined.

Despite his resignation as chair of the police and crime committee last month, City Hall Conservatives insisted Mr Bailey would “continue to speak up for Londoners” as a member of the London Assembly.

But the runner-up in last year’s mayoral election has not appeared in his capacity as an Assembly Member since a meeting of the transport committee on December 14.

Mr Bailey has not spoken publicly since December 15 when he appeared on GB News and said “it will take more than this [scandal] to stop me”.

Shaun Bailey and the GLA Conservatives have been approached for comment.