United Kingdom

The chief executive of my local city council was one of those who had Whitehall lockdown drinks when she left her previous role in the cabinet office. I don't really think Sheffield Council wants to lose Kate Josephs as chief executives are difficult to come by, especially with her experience.

However, it would appear that Westminster is one of the last bastions of workplace drinking culture, and the failure to adapt to a global pandemic is causing serious knock on effects for the government.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-60117868

A council boss who hosted a lockdown party in her old government job is on paid leave from her current role while an investigation takes place.

Sheffield chief executive Kate Josephs, who led the government's Covid-19 taskforce, had leaving drinks in the Cabinet Office in December 2020.

She went on annual leave last week after admitting and apologising for hosting the gathering.

A council spokesperson said Ms Josephs was now on "paid leave".