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Downing Street parties: Sue Gray report could come this week as police signal no objection – live updates Downing Street parties: Sue Gray report could come this week as police signal no objection – live updates
(32 minutes later)
Latest updates: prime minister welcomes Met police investigation into allegations of lockdown rule-breakingLatest updates: prime minister welcomes Met police investigation into allegations of lockdown rule-breaking
And the Times is now reporting this as definite. “Sue Gray, the civil servant investigating lockdown breaking parties in Downing Street, still intends to publish her report this week despite a police investigation into potential criminality,” Fiona Hamilton, Oliver Wright and Steven Swinford report in their story (paywall). They go on:And the Times is now reporting this as definite. “Sue Gray, the civil servant investigating lockdown breaking parties in Downing Street, still intends to publish her report this week despite a police investigation into potential criminality,” Fiona Hamilton, Oliver Wright and Steven Swinford report in their story (paywall). They go on:
Rishi Sunak accidentally attended Boris Johnson’s birthday gathering on 19 June 2020, Yahoo News UK reports.
According to a Treasury source, the chancellor went to the cabinet room for a Covid strategy committee meeting, and happened upon the celebration.
From their political correspondent, Nadine Batchelor-Hunt:
Keir Starmer has said trust in Boris Johnson is at an “all-time low”.Keir Starmer has said trust in Boris Johnson is at an “all-time low”.
Speaking this evening, the Labour leader has said some members of the cabinet need to “look themselves in the mirror” and ask why they are still supporting the prime minister. He added:Speaking this evening, the Labour leader has said some members of the cabinet need to “look themselves in the mirror” and ask why they are still supporting the prime minister. He added:
The shadow attorney general, Emily Thornberry, said the public “all know what happened”. Speaking to BBC News, she said:The shadow attorney general, Emily Thornberry, said the public “all know what happened”. Speaking to BBC News, she said:
Crispin Blunt, a long-serving Tory backbencher, has characterised partygate as a “premier-class Whitehall farce”.Crispin Blunt, a long-serving Tory backbencher, has characterised partygate as a “premier-class Whitehall farce”.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4 this evening, he said:Speaking to BBC Radio 4 this evening, he said:
Sky News’ Beth Rigby reports that No 10 is preparing the ground for a statement by Boris Johnson on Sue Gray’s report tomorrow.Sky News’ Beth Rigby reports that No 10 is preparing the ground for a statement by Boris Johnson on Sue Gray’s report tomorrow.
Government officials have handed over images of alleged parties in Downing Street to investigators, Sky News reports.Government officials have handed over images of alleged parties in Downing Street to investigators, Sky News reports.
The photographs, seen by Sue Gray, are believed to feature Boris Johnson and show people close together with wine bottles.The photographs, seen by Sue Gray, are believed to feature Boris Johnson and show people close together with wine bottles.
From Sky News’ deputy political editor, Sam Coates:From Sky News’ deputy political editor, Sam Coates:
Savanta ComRes has published some new polling on partygate. It suggests more than half of voters do not trust the Metropolitan police to investigate partygate, and more than half of voters think fines would be too lenient as punishment for breaches of the Covid rules. Here is an extract from the news release.Savanta ComRes has published some new polling on partygate. It suggests more than half of voters do not trust the Metropolitan police to investigate partygate, and more than half of voters think fines would be too lenient as punishment for breaches of the Covid rules. Here is an extract from the news release.
The poll also suggests 67% of people think Boris Johnson should resign - “although this figure is practically unchanged from earlier this month when the prime minister admitted to briefly attending a BYOB drinks event in the Downing Street garden while Britain was in its first full lockdown”, Savanta ComRes says.The poll also suggests 67% of people think Boris Johnson should resign - “although this figure is practically unchanged from earlier this month when the prime minister admitted to briefly attending a BYOB drinks event in the Downing Street garden while Britain was in its first full lockdown”, Savanta ComRes says.
That is all from me for today. My colleague Leonie Chao-Fong is taking over now.That is all from me for today. My colleague Leonie Chao-Fong is taking over now.
From ITV’s Anushka AsthanaFrom ITV’s Anushka Asthana
Conor Burns, a Northern Ireland minister and one of the arch Johnson loyalists in government, told BBC News that, with the Covid pandemic easing, the PM would “relish getting back to the domestic agenda”. He also said he thought Boris Johnson would see off the threat to his leadership. He said:Conor Burns, a Northern Ireland minister and one of the arch Johnson loyalists in government, told BBC News that, with the Covid pandemic easing, the PM would “relish getting back to the domestic agenda”. He also said he thought Boris Johnson would see off the threat to his leadership. He said:
The lack of doubt on show from the Johnson Praetorian Guard today (see Jacob Rees-Mogg this morning at 11.51am for another example) is certainly a notch or two beyond what we have heard from them in the past. But their public certainty is probably in inverse proportion to the confidence they feel in private about the PM’s chances of survival.The lack of doubt on show from the Johnson Praetorian Guard today (see Jacob Rees-Mogg this morning at 11.51am for another example) is certainly a notch or two beyond what we have heard from them in the past. But their public certainty is probably in inverse proportion to the confidence they feel in private about the PM’s chances of survival.
ITV’s Robert Peston has also been told that the Sue Gray report is set for publication within the next 24 hours.ITV’s Robert Peston has also been told that the Sue Gray report is set for publication within the next 24 hours.
Pippa Crerar, the Daily Mirror’s political editor, says No 10 is expected to get the Sue Gray report tonight.Pippa Crerar, the Daily Mirror’s political editor, says No 10 is expected to get the Sue Gray report tonight.
No 10 has always said it expects to release the report to MPs, and to the public, soon after receiving it from Gray and her team.No 10 has always said it expects to release the report to MPs, and to the public, soon after receiving it from Gray and her team.