No10 compelled to apologise after meat and alcohol served at Diwali celebration

No10 has been forced to issue an apology after meat and alcohol were served at a Diwali celebration.

Press reports in India said some British Hindu guests were left offended when beer, wine and lamb were offered at the annual Downing Street reception. Hinduism does not have a clear prohibition on alcohol or meat consumption, but many Hindus choose not to drink and some are also vegetarian.

No10 said on Friday a “mistake” had been made in the organisation of the event and sought to assure the community “it will not happen again”.

A Number 10 spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister was pleased to welcome a range of communities celebrating Diwali to a reception in Downing Street. He paid tribute to the huge contribution the British Hindu, Sikh & Jain communities make to our country and how the government is driven by the shared values of hard work, ambition and aspiration.

“A mistake was made in the organisation of the event. We understand the strength of feeling on this issue and so would apologise to the community and assure them it will not happen again.”

The Downing Street Diwali event has taken place since 2009 and last year was held by the UK’s first Hindu PM Rishi Sunak. But this year’s celebration prompted complaints from UK Hindus including Shivani Raja, the Conservative MP for Leicester East, who said she was “greatly concerned” to hear about the event.

In a letter to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Ms Raja had said she was “greatly concerned” to hear that attendees of this year’s celebration were offered meat and alcohol.

“I feel this speaks poorly against the organisation of this year’s event – with a disappointing lack of knowledge of the customs and traditions that many British citizens hold dear,” she added.

“As a practising Hindu, representing thousands of Hindus within my own constituency of Leicester East, I have been deeply saddened to hear that this year’s festivities were overshadowed in the greatest Office of State by negativity, as a result of this oversight.” She added on Friday: “Pleased to see 10 Downing Street apologise to the community over their Diwali debacle. My offer of assistance still stands”.