This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-60123850

The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Police to investigate No 10 lockdown parties Police to investigate Downing Street lockdown parties
(32 minutes later)
This video can not be playedThis video can not be played
To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.
Watch Dame Cressida Dick announce the Met Police's investigation into No 10 lockdown partiesWatch Dame Cressida Dick announce the Met Police's investigation into No 10 lockdown parties
The Metropolitan Police have launched an investigation into parties held in No 10 during the coronavirus pandemic.The Metropolitan Police have launched an investigation into parties held in No 10 during the coronavirus pandemic.
Commissioner Cressida Dick said they were looking into "potential breaches of Covid-19 regulations" in Downing Street and Whitehall since 2020.Commissioner Cressida Dick said they were looking into "potential breaches of Covid-19 regulations" in Downing Street and Whitehall since 2020.
She said the investigation was launched as a "result of the information provided by the Cabinet Office inquiry team", led by civil servant Sue Gray.She said the investigation was launched as a "result of the information provided by the Cabinet Office inquiry team", led by civil servant Sue Gray.
The Cabinet Office said Ms Gray's own inquiry would continue.The Cabinet Office said Ms Gray's own inquiry would continue.
But it is not yet clear if the police investigation will lead to delays in its publication. But the BBC understands the report will not be published while the Met are investigating, and it is not clear how long the force will take.
The news comes after fresh allegations of a birthday party being held for the PM in June 2020. The news comes after fresh allegations of a birthday party being held for the prime minister in June 2020.
Birthday celebration for PM sparks new party row
Analysis: Birthday claims add to PM's political baggage
Sue Gray report: What exactly is she looking at?
Downing Street has admitted that staff gathered inside No 10 to celebrate Boris Johnson's birthday when the first Covid lockdown was still in place.Downing Street has admitted that staff gathered inside No 10 to celebrate Boris Johnson's birthday when the first Covid lockdown was still in place.
But ministers have disputed the number of people attending, and called for "patience" while Ms Gray's inquiry is carried out to establish the facts.But ministers have disputed the number of people attending, and called for "patience" while Ms Gray's inquiry is carried out to establish the facts.
'Deep concern'
Dame Cressida made the announcement about the police investigation while facing questions from the London Assembly's Police and Crime Committee on Tuesday.
She said she understood the "deep public concern" about the allegations of parties inside No 10, along with the "huge sacrifices" the public had made during the pandemic.
And she said it would "not normally be a proportionate use of time" for the force to investigate rule breaches as far back as two years.
But the commissioner said the police would look at allegations that "appeared to be the most serious and flagrant breach" of regulations.
She added: "As a result of the information provided by the Cabinet Office and secondly officers' own assessments, I can confirm the Met is now investigating a number of events that took place at Downing Street and Whitehall in the last two years in relation to potential breaches of Covid 19 regulations."
The first thing is to have a sense of proportion.The first thing is to have a sense of proportion.
When you hear the words "Met Police, investigation, criminal, Downing Street" that sounds incredibly dramatic. When you hear the words, "Met Police, investigation, criminal, Downing Street", that sounds incredibly dramatic.
This is a big development in this story but we are talking about the potential issuing of fixed penalty notices - fines - we are not talking about big criminal trials or people going to prison. This is a big development in this story, but we are talking about the potential issuing of fixed penalty notices - fines - not about big criminal trials or people going to prison.
So it is important to keep that sense of perspective.So it is important to keep that sense of perspective.
There are also lots of things we don't know about this police investigation.There are also lots of things we don't know about this police investigation.
We don't know how many of those high-profile parties are now being investigated and crucially we don't know if they were parties attended by the prime minister. We don't know how many of these high-profile parties are now being investigated and crucially we don't know if they were parties attended by the prime minister.
We don't know if the prime minister is in the frame for being interviewed by the police. We also don't know if the prime minister is in the frame for being interviewed by the police.
So, lots of unanswered questions but it means this is going to rumble on at a much higher volume for a lot longer. So, lots of unanswered questions, but it means this row is going to rumble on at a much higher volume for a lot longer.