The publication of Sue Gray’s report on parties held in Downing Street during lockdown has been delayed as Boris Johnson has so far defended his tenure.
Number 10 is expected to publish Sue Gray’s findings within hours of receiving the report, before Boris Johnson heads to the House of Commons to make a statement on it.
But the chamber adjourned for today, January 26, meaning Mr Johnson cannot make a statement until tomorrow morning at the earliest, reports the Mirror.
It follows days of chaotic briefings and counter-briefings on the report after Sue Gray wrapped up her work at a dozen parties in Downing Street and Whitehall.
It was thought the report should be delayed or split into two after Scotland Yard announced it would investigate “a number” of gatherings inside Number 10.
But then it emerged that Ms Gray would be sending her full findings to Downing Street after all.
Although it was feared it could harm the police investigation, lockdown breaches are punishable by fines, so any Scotland Yard investigation is unlikely to end up in court.
Boris Johnson’s spokesperson said the delay was due to a police check, saying: “We need assurances that nothing we have received has been cut across the Met. “
Number 10 insisted its ‘intention’ was to publish Sue Gray’s report in the same format as Boris Johnson receives it.
The Mirror understands that Sue Gray expects her full report to be published – but it will not contain all the evidence she has received and may not contain things like text exchanges or alleged photos of Boris Johnson with bottles of wine.
Instead, it will likely be a detailed summary and may recommend disciplinary action against certain staff members, but this would remain secret.
Boris Johnson could be questioned by police over the holiday – the first time a sitting prime minister has been grilled by cops in 16 years.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman said he was not aware that the police had asked to question the Prime Minister as part of the Met investigation, but “as a rule I will not discuss people who may or may not be involved”.
Labor could use parliamentary procedures to try to force the publication of the full Gray report if Mr Johnson does not publish it.
It could take the form of a “humble address”, in effect a message to the Queen demanding that articles be published.
The Prime Minister has spoken to Conservative MPs in the House of Commons to try to shore up his position while awaiting the report.
During Prime Minister’s Questions earlier, Mr Johnson rejected calls for his resignation and insisted he was ‘carrying on with his work’, although he acknowledged there were people who ‘want to let me be away”.
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