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| Downing Street parties: Met police ‘did not object to publication of Sue Gray report’ – live updates | Downing Street parties: Met police ‘did not object to publication of Sue Gray report’ – live updates |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Latest updates: prime minister welcomes Met police investigation into allegations of lockdown rule-breaking | Latest updates: prime minister welcomes Met police investigation into allegations of lockdown rule-breaking |
| The decision to pause the publication of the parts of the Sue Gray report relating to events being investigated by the police seems to have been taken by government, not by the Met, my colleague Vikram Dodd reports. He has been told, by sources with knowledge of its discussions and actions, that the Met did not raise any objection to the publication of the Gray report. | The decision to pause the publication of the parts of the Sue Gray report relating to events being investigated by the police seems to have been taken by government, not by the Met, my colleague Vikram Dodd reports. He has been told, by sources with knowledge of its discussions and actions, that the Met did not raise any objection to the publication of the Gray report. |
| In a statement on the police inquiry into parties at No 10 from the Green party, the Green peer Jenny Jones said: | |
| Jones may have been reading these tweets from Adam Wagner, the lawyer and lockdown regulation specialist. | |
| Here is the start of the PA Media story about Boris Johnson’s statement to MPs about the Russsian threat to Ukraine. | |
| In a blog with his asssessment of the implications of the police decision to investigate the No 10 parties, Robert Peston, ITV’s political editor, also concludes this is bad development for the Conservative party. Here’s an extract. | |
| Gavin Barwell, chief of staff for Theresa May when she was PM, has posted a thread on Twitter on the implications of the police decision to investigate No 10 parties. It starts here. | Gavin Barwell, chief of staff for Theresa May when she was PM, has posted a thread on Twitter on the implications of the police decision to investigate No 10 parties. It starts here. |
| And here is one of his conclusions. | And here is one of his conclusions. |
| The decision to pause the publication of the parts of the Sue Gray report relating to events being investigated by the police seems to have been taken by government, not by the Met, my colleague Vikram Dodd reports. He has been told, by sources with knowledge of its discussions and actions, that the Met did not raise any objection to the publication of the Gray report. | The decision to pause the publication of the parts of the Sue Gray report relating to events being investigated by the police seems to have been taken by government, not by the Met, my colleague Vikram Dodd reports. He has been told, by sources with knowledge of its discussions and actions, that the Met did not raise any objection to the publication of the Gray report. |
| In his response to Johnson, Keir Starmer said Labour supported the government’s moves to help Ukraine to defend itself, and to deter Russia from further aggression. | In his response to Johnson, Keir Starmer said Labour supported the government’s moves to help Ukraine to defend itself, and to deter Russia from further aggression. |
| He said for too long the west had allowed Putin to think he could do what he liked. That message had to change, he said. Russia should be shown that further aggression would result in severe consequences. | He said for too long the west had allowed Putin to think he could do what he liked. That message had to change, he said. Russia should be shown that further aggression would result in severe consequences. |
| Starmer also said the government should do more to stop the UK being used as a “laundromat” for illicit money from the Russian elite. | Starmer also said the government should do more to stop the UK being used as a “laundromat” for illicit money from the Russian elite. |
| Johnson is now talking about the Russian threat to Ukraine. | Johnson is now talking about the Russian threat to Ukraine. |
| He says he shudders to contemplate what would happen if there were an invasion. Ukrainian resistance would be “dogged and tenacious”, and the bloodshed comparable to that in the Chechnya or Bosnia conflicts, he says. Russia would create a wasteland and there would never be peace. | He says he shudders to contemplate what would happen if there were an invasion. Ukrainian resistance would be “dogged and tenacious”, and the bloodshed comparable to that in the Chechnya or Bosnia conflicts, he says. Russia would create a wasteland and there would never be peace. |
| He says that when he spoke to President Putin in December, he told him that Nato had no thought of encircling or threatening his country. | He says that when he spoke to President Putin in December, he told him that Nato had no thought of encircling or threatening his country. |
| But he also told Putin that Ukraine had the right to protection too, he says. He says he told Putin that an attack on Ukraine would be met by tougher sanctions. | But he also told Putin that Ukraine had the right to protection too, he says. He says he told Putin that an attack on Ukraine would be met by tougher sanctions. |
| He summarises what was agreed at the video conference of leading Nato leaders last night. | He summarises what was agreed at the video conference of leading Nato leaders last night. |
| Johnson says the UK has provided Ukraine with anti-armour missiles. | Johnson says the UK has provided Ukraine with anti-armour missiles. |
| If Putin chooses the path of bloodshed and destruction, that will be “tragic and futile”, he says. | If Putin chooses the path of bloodshed and destruction, that will be “tragic and futile”, he says. |
| He says that when he spoke to Putin in December, he said Russia and Britain had stood together in the past. | He says that when he spoke to Putin in December, he said Russia and Britain had stood together in the past. |
| And he says both sides would yet find a path to mutual security “through patient and principled diplomacy”. | And he says both sides would yet find a path to mutual security “through patient and principled diplomacy”. |
| Boris Johnson is making his statement to MPs. | Boris Johnson is making his statement to MPs. |
| It will mostly be on Ukraine, but he starts by talking about the police investigation. | It will mostly be on Ukraine, but he starts by talking about the police investigation. |
| He says he commissioned the investigation into events in Downing Street. That involved sharing information with the police continuously, and so he welcomes the Met police decision to launch their own investigation, he says. | He says he commissioned the investigation into events in Downing Street. That involved sharing information with the police continuously, and so he welcomes the Met police decision to launch their own investigation, he says. |
| But Johnson says he also wants to assure people that the government is focused “100% on dealing with the people’s priorities”, including defending freedom around the world. | But Johnson says he also wants to assure people that the government is focused “100% on dealing with the people’s priorities”, including defending freedom around the world. |
| UPDATE: Johnson said: | UPDATE: Johnson said: |
| Justin Madders (Lab) asks why the PM is still in his job when he told MPs there was no party. | Justin Madders (Lab) asks why the PM is still in his job when he told MPs there was no party. |
| Ellis says people work are entitled to a “reasonable break”. He says eating cake for 10 minutes does not constitute a party. | Ellis says people work are entitled to a “reasonable break”. He says eating cake for 10 minutes does not constitute a party. |
| Back in the Commons Lia Nici (Con) claimed her constituents were “sick and tired” of hearing opposition MPs go on continually about partygate. She asked Michael Ellis, the minister, to pass on to the PM their support, and their desire for him to carry on implementing his policies. | Back in the Commons Lia Nici (Con) claimed her constituents were “sick and tired” of hearing opposition MPs go on continually about partygate. She asked Michael Ellis, the minister, to pass on to the PM their support, and their desire for him to carry on implementing his policies. |
| Ellis said other MPs were passing on the same message. | Ellis said other MPs were passing on the same message. |
| This is what the PM’s spokesman told journalists at the Downing Street lobby briefing about the PM’s reaction to the Met police inquiry. | This is what the PM’s spokesman told journalists at the Downing Street lobby briefing about the PM’s reaction to the Met police inquiry. |
| The spokesman also said that Boris Johnson knew before cabinet started that the Met commissioner would be announcing a police investigation. But he did not mention it during cabinet, apart from an allusion to it at the end, the spokesman said. | The spokesman also said that Boris Johnson knew before cabinet started that the Met commissioner would be announcing a police investigation. But he did not mention it during cabinet, apart from an allusion to it at the end, the spokesman said. |
| Mark Jenkinson (Con) says the opposition benches are “in cahoots with the media” to undemocratically unseat the prime minister because he is a threat to them. | Mark Jenkinson (Con) says the opposition benches are “in cahoots with the media” to undemocratically unseat the prime minister because he is a threat to them. |
| In the Commons Stuart Anderson (Con) tells MPs that calling for Boris Johnson’s resignation is only “strengthening Putin’s hand”. | In the Commons Stuart Anderson (Con) tells MPs that calling for Boris Johnson’s resignation is only “strengthening Putin’s hand”. |
| In the Common Giles Watling (Con) say this urgent question is “a vexatious waste of everybody’s time”. | In the Common Giles Watling (Con) say this urgent question is “a vexatious waste of everybody’s time”. |
| The Speaker, Sir Linsday Hoyle, says that is a reflection on his judgment in granting it. Watling withdraws his question. | The Speaker, Sir Linsday Hoyle, says that is a reflection on his judgment in granting it. Watling withdraws his question. |
| In the Commons some Conservative MPs are defending Boris Johnson. Sir Edward Leigh urges colleagues to maintain “a sense of proportion” about the PM being given a piece of cake by staff. And Richard Bacon said this was not as serious as Tony Blair being interviewed by the police about cash for honours (see 12.26pm), or a Labour MP taking money from a Chinese spy. | In the Commons some Conservative MPs are defending Boris Johnson. Sir Edward Leigh urges colleagues to maintain “a sense of proportion” about the PM being given a piece of cake by staff. And Richard Bacon said this was not as serious as Tony Blair being interviewed by the police about cash for honours (see 12.26pm), or a Labour MP taking money from a Chinese spy. |
| 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. | 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. | 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: | 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 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. | 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. | But he said Johnson still does not think he broke the law. |