Pressure on the Prime Minister is growing over the Downing Street confinement parties ahead of the release of Sue Gray’s report on the party’s doorstep.
Number 10 is expected to receive the final report of the investigation on Wednesday. It is expected to be more in-depth than the Met police investigation that concluded last week and will include names of violators of the rules.
Criticism of the Met’s investigation has escalated after photos of Boris Johnson emerged on Monday giving a toast to his colleagues on Downing Street allegedly on November 13, 2020, during England’s second national blockade.
Police decided not to fine the prime minister for the event, but at least one other person did.
Policy Center: Live updates before the release of Sue Gray’s report
The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, was one of those who asked the Met to explain why Mr Johnson received only one fine for breaching the blockade rules on his 56th birthday.
The police watchdog confirmed on Tuesday that it had received a complaint from the Lib Dems over the Met investigation, urging them to establish how the Met detectives came to the conclusion not to fine the Prime Minister for the events of November 13, 2020.
Former Met Chief Superintendent Dal Babu told Sky News he was “surprised” that the prime minister was not fined for the event.
The failure perceived by some of the Met has increased the pressure on Sue Gray’s report to reveal more details.
Deputies, including some Conservatives, have accused Mr Johnson of cheating parliament after he denied being in the party on November 13 after a direct question about his attendance on December 8, 2021.
Veteran Conservative MP Roger Gale said it was a “waiver issue”.
Image: The photos that emerged on Monday showed the prime minister toasting for a colleague. Image: ITV
Measures of the cost of living are being advanced
In what some see as an attempt to reduce the sting of Sue Gray’s investigation, it is understood the chancellor will introduce financial aid for the cost of living crisis on Thursday, presenting a June announcement.
Another image, obtained by The Mirror, appeared on Tuesday evening showing a man standing at a table on Downing Street with nine bottles of wine and prosecco, as well as miniature donuts and cakes.
The meeting is believed to have been an abandonment for then-Prime Minister James Slack’s official spokesman on November 17, 2020, during the second national blockade.
It is understood that between 30 and 40 workers attended and the act was not investigated by the police.
It is understood that Mr Johnson encouraged staff to “vent” while working hard during the pandemic.
Image: Critics have questioned why the Prime Minister was not fined for the November 13, 2020 event. Image: ITV
“Breach of usual rules”
Three privileged people from Downing Street told the BBC they had witnessed non-compliance with periodic rules during coronavirus restrictions, with weekly invitations to press office drinks listed as “Friday at the time of the coronavirus”. you “.
The remains of the party were left overnight for employees arriving the next day, experts said as they recounted crowded gatherings where people sat on each other’s lap.
One said they believed they had Mr. Johnson’s permission, as he did not tell them to break scenes and “grab a glass for him.”
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2:38 Partygate: “Met needs to explain”
It is also said that security guards had to send an email down Downing Street telling people to stop having events.
Downing Street has said it handed over all the photos and evidence to Met police and Sue Gray’s investigation.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman said he could not “go into comment on the allegations made since Sue Gray’s report has not yet been released.”
“You will hear the Prime Minister when this has happened, so I am limited in what I can say,” he added.