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Downing Street parties: Met police launch investigation into alleged lockdown rule breaking – live updates Downing Street parties: Met police launch investigation into alleged lockdown rule breaking – live updates
(32 minutes later)
Latest updates: No 10 now facing police investigation over alleged breaches of lockdown rulesLatest updates: No 10 now facing police investigation over alleged breaches of lockdown rules
Dick says she is going to explain her general approach. They have followed the four E’s: explain the rules, engage with people, [encourage people to obey] and only enforce as a last resort.Dick says she is going to explain her general approach. They have followed the four E’s: explain the rules, engage with people, [encourage people to obey] and only enforce as a last resort.
She says most people responded very well to police engagement.She says most people responded very well to police engagement.
The police have “finite resources”, she says. This was a particular problem during the pandemic when people fell ill.The police have “finite resources”, she says. This was a particular problem during the pandemic when people fell ill.
Normally it would not be a “proportionate” use of officers’ time investigating offences committed in the past. These are summary offences that attract fines.Normally it would not be a “proportionate” use of officers’ time investigating offences committed in the past. These are summary offences that attract fines.
She says it was better to focus on serious crime.She says it was better to focus on serious crime.
The police have guidelines. And sometimes the police have investigated retrospectively.The police have guidelines. And sometimes the police have investigated retrospectively.
Some police officers were investigated after the fact for breaking Covid rules. And some high-profile people were investigated too.Some police officers were investigated after the fact for breaking Covid rules. And some high-profile people were investigated too.
She says these cases were “the most serious and flagrant” kind of breach.She says these cases were “the most serious and flagrant” kind of breach.
Four conditions had to apply. There had to be evidence, she says.Four conditions had to apply. There had to be evidence, she says.
She says those involved had to know they were committing an offence, the cases had to risk undermining the law, and there had to be little ambiguity about a reasonable defence.She says those involved had to know they were committing an offence, the cases had to risk undermining the law, and there had to be little ambiguity about a reasonable defence.
She says the Met has a good relationship with the Cabinet Office. On the basis of what they have said, and on the basis of an assessment by the police, she says she can now confirm that the Met is 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”.She says the Met has a good relationship with the Cabinet Office. On the basis of what they have said, and on the basis of an assessment by the police, she says she can now confirm that the Met is 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”.
She says other cases are not being investigated because they do not meet the threshold for criminal investigation.She says other cases are not being investigated because they do not meet the threshold for criminal investigation.
The police will not give a running commentary, she says.The police will not give a running commentary, she says.
The Downing Street lobby briefing has just finished, and the PM’s spokesman has confirmed that the findings of the Sue Gray inquiry into the events now being investigated by the police will not be published until the inquiry is over.
In the Commons a few minutes ago Michael Ellis, a minister, said the Gray inquiry would continue.
But at the lobby briefing the spokesman implied that the Gray inquiry would be effectively split in two. The findings relating to events that were not deemed illegal might be published soon, he implied. But the other findings would be held back. The spokesman told journalistss:
The spokeman also told reporters that Boris Johnson thought it was “entirely right” for the police to investigate.
The spokesman sidestepped questions about whether Johnson is now getting legal advice ahead of the police inquiry.
But he said Johnson still does not think he broke the law.
Ellis says Rayner he agrees with her they should be focusing on cost-of-living matters instead.
The fact that the police are investigating does not mean people will be fined, he says. He says “potentially” is an operable word. He cites the statement from Cressida Dick.
(In fact, unusually, the Met statement about this investigation implied there was little doubt about the law having been broken in this case. See 11.03am.)
Angela Rayner, the deputy Labour leader, says the terms of reference for the Sue Gray inquiry say if evidence of criminal behaviour is found, it must be referred to the police.
When will the Gray report be published?
Will it be published in full, with accompanying evidence?
What will Gray do while the police investigation is under way?
Is the chancellor cooperating with the Gray inquiry, as a resident of Downing Street?
Rayner says only a few weeks ago the PM said there was no party. How does Ellis explain that?
Michael Ellis, the Cabinet Office minister, is responding to the Labour UQ.
He says he recognises public indignation that people setting the rules “may” not have been following them.
That “may” prompts some laughter.
He repeats the point he made two weeks ago about how, if evidence of criminality occurred, the matter could be referred to the police.
He says there has been contact between the police and Sue Gray’s team. But the Cabinet Office investigation led by Gray will continue, he says.
He says the findings of the investigation will be provided to MPs, and made public.
He says he cannot comment on an ongoing police investigation.
From my colleague Jessica Elgot
A reader has been in touch to ask if Downing Street has ever been investigated by the police before. The answer is yes, and not that long ago. When Tony Blair was PM, the police investigated claims that honours had been effectively sold by No 10 (the cash-for-honours scandal). The prime minister’s chief fundraiser, and a key No 10 aide, were arrested as part of the inquiry, but eventually the CPS decided not to press charges.
Blair himself was interviewed by the police as part of the inquiry. But, in what may set a precedence of sorts for this case, Blair was not interviewed under caution. In other words, he was interviewed as a witness, not as a suspect.
Around that time it was reported that the police were told by Downing Street that, if they did interview Blair under caution, he felt would have to resign.
Whether Boris Johnson will feel the same principle ought to apply in his case is yet to be revealed.
Michael Fabricant, the Conservative backbencher, has been one of Boris Johnson’s most vocal supporters in recent days, but not all his contributions to the public debate have been judged wise or helpful by colleagues. This may be another contribution to the collection.Michael Fabricant, the Conservative backbencher, has been one of Boris Johnson’s most vocal supporters in recent days, but not all his contributions to the public debate have been judged wise or helpful by colleagues. This may be another contribution to the collection.
For an alternative view, this is from Iain Dale, the broadcaster and former Conservative party aide.For an alternative view, this is from Iain Dale, the broadcaster and former Conservative party aide.
The Conservative MP Simon Hoare has said Boris Johnson’s situation is “increasingly difficult”, Bloomberg’s Kitty Donaldson reports.The Conservative MP Simon Hoare has said Boris Johnson’s situation is “increasingly difficult”, Bloomberg’s Kitty Donaldson reports.
Lord Evans, the chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, said this morning that MPs should have “less direct involvement” in “judging each other” on their conduct. Giving evidence to the Commons standards committee on the code of conduct for MPs, he said:Lord Evans, the chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, said this morning that MPs should have “less direct involvement” in “judging each other” on their conduct. Giving evidence to the Commons standards committee on the code of conduct for MPs, he said:
Sadiq Khan, the Labour mayor of London, has welcomed the news that the Met police are investigating lockdown breaches at No 10. He said:Sadiq Khan, the Labour mayor of London, has welcomed the news that the Met police are investigating lockdown breaches at No 10. He said:
Boris Johnson is due to make a statement to MPs about the Russian threat to Ukraine. It will start at around 1.15pm.Boris Johnson is due to make a statement to MPs about the Russian threat to Ukraine. It will start at around 1.15pm.
At the London assembly committee hearing Dame Cressida Dick, commissioner of the Metropolitan police, was asked if any of the officers guarding Downing Street had expressed concerns about parties. She replied:
This is from David Davis, the former Brexit secretary, who last week told Boris Johnson at PMQs that he should resign.
As he left No 10 after cabinet, Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the Commons and one of Boris Johnson’s stronger supporters, brushed off questions about the police investigation. He told reporters:
Sue Gray will not publish her inquiry until the Met police have concluded their investigation into alleged criminal activity in Downing Street, according to sources. The Met police confirmed that Gray had handed over her preliminary findings.
A Cabinet Office spokesman said work would continue on the inquiry. “The investigation being carried out by Sue Gray is continuing,” the spokesman said. “There is in ongoing contact with the Metropolitan police service.”The inquiry’s terms of reference state:
In a statement, the Metropolitan police said:
The Sue Gray report into partygate will now be delayed, according to the FT’s Sebastian Payne.
What is not clear yet, though, is how long the Gray report will be delayed. In the Commons two weeks ago Michael Ellis, a Cabinet Office minister, told MPs that if there was a police investigation, the Gray report might be shelved until the police inquiry had concluded. “If evidence emerges of what was a potentially criminal offence the matter would be referred to the Metropolitan police and the Cabinet Office’s work may be paused,” he said.
Neil Coyle, the Labour MP who referred the parties to the Metropolitan police, said Dame Cressida Dick, the Metropolitan police commissioner, had “serious questions to answer about why the investigation could only be launched now”. Coyle told the Guardian:
Angela Rayner, Labour’s deputy leader, has been granted an urgent question in the Commons on the Met police investigation into partygate. It will start at around 12.30pm.
And this is what Dame Cressida Dick told the London assembly’s police and crime committee in her opening statement about the criteria used to decide when the Met would investigate historic complaints about lockdown breaches.
These are not criteria that have been widely publicised by the Met before. The fact that Dick says some No 10 parties are now being investigated therefore means that the Met considers that they appear to constitute “the most serious and flagrant type of breach”.
This is what Dame Cressida Dick told the London assembly’s police and crime committee about why the Met generally has not investigated historic complaints about lockdown breaches.
Ed Davey, the Lib Dem leader, has responded to the Met police’s announcement by saying he expects to see Boris Johnson interviewed under caution at his local police station. He said: