How struggles of Boris Johnson's aide kept press briefing project off air

Ex-journalist seen laughing at Christmas party question is said to have been PM’s pick for the role, writes Jim Waterson

Allegra Stratton speaking outside her home in north London where she announced that she has resigned as an adviser to Boris Johnson.

ALLEGRA STRATTON was supposed to help revolutionise the British government’s communications when she was appointed to host a daily White House-style press conference from Downing St.

In the end, the public will get to see only one occasion of Stratton standing on the podium of the purpose-built £2.6m briefing room — in a highly damaging leaked recording featuring her laughing at a question about No 10 holding an illegal Christmas party. The public outcry over this video — which led news bulletins and swiftly attracted tens of millions of views online — led to the 41-year-old’s tearful resignation from government yesterday afternoon.