BOURNEMOUTH East MP Tobias Ellwood faces scrutiny over his attendance at a London gathering of 27 people which was described as a ‘Christmas Party’ on the organiser’s website.

Mr Ellwood gave a speech at the Iraq Britain Business Council (IBBC) event in the Cavalry and Guards Club in Piccadilly on Tuesday.

The Conservative MP told the Daily Mail it was a “business meeting”, which is permitted under Tier 2 rules.

"I would not be attending a Christmas party, it was a business meeting," said Mr Ellwood.

"I went there to meet business people and that is what it was. The club went to extreme lengths so that as a business function it was absolutely Covid-compliant."

He added: "It is absolutely right that everybody should follow the rules. The Club confirm that the rules were not broken."

The business council’s website said it worked with the venue to ensure the event was fully Covid complaint.

Home Secretary Priti Patel was asked about Mr Ellwood’s decision to attend the event.

Asked by ITV News if his actions were an “egregious” breach of the rules, Ms Patel said: “Well, it is. Of course it is exactly that.

“Having dinner outside of the rules with a large number of people is a breach of the regulations.”

Asked if there should be a punishment, Ms Patel said: “There are fixed penalty notices. I don’t know the details as to where this happened or the location, but I’m sure, as it is a breach, that will be followed up.”

But she declined to say whether it is a disciplinary matter for the party, acknowledging that “I simply do not know the full details”.

Mr Ellwood attended the event the day after he told the Commons that allowing families to meet over Christmas “could be very dangerous indeed” and suggested the relaxation of rules over the festive period could lead to a “third wave”.

The Government’s Tier 2 guidance states that “gatherings for work purposes are only allowed where they are reasonably necessary”.

London was in Tier 2 at the time of the event before going into Tier 3 from Wednesday.

The IBBC’s website says it held a “business dinner” on December 15 where members and guests, including a delegation from the Iraqi Embassy, were addressed by Tobias Ellwood MP, former Middle East Minister and present chairman of the House of Commons Defence Committee.