SCOTLAND Yard today announced a criminal investigation into gatherings in Downing Street, throwing Boris Johnson’s leadership into fresh crisis. In a bombshell intervention in the “partygate” storm, Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick said there were grounds to suspect “serious and flagrant” breaches of the law. She added that her officers were “investigating a number of events that took place at Downing Street and in Whitehall in the past two years in relation to potential breaches of Covid-19 regulations”. She declined to say whether the Prime Minister — who No10 has admitted attended a birthday party for him and at least two other gatherings in Downing Street during lockdown — was personally under investigation. But her comments sent shockwaves through Westminster as it raised the prospect of Mr Johnson being fined. Emerging from Cabinet, Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg rushed to defend the Prime Minister amid the doubts over his future. “The leadership of Boris Johnson that this country has had has been so brilliant that he has got us through this incredibly difficult period and he’s got all the big decisions right,” he said. “I’m honoured to be under his leadership.”
However, a number of Tory MPs will now be considering whether to send in letters of no confidence in the Prime Minister as they had been awaiting the report by senior civil servant Sue Gray into the series of “parties” in Downing Street before making up their mind.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
"We're building a Spurs squad to compete now. This is not a project for five years time
BACK in December, in the run up to Christmas, Tottenham's technical director Johan Lange travelled to Stockholm on a special assignment. Lange's mission was to persuade Lucas Bergvall, one of the most exciting young players in Europe, to visit Spurs in the New Year.
England's breakthrough star faces biggest challenge yet
Pakistan, the Ashes and fatherhood now lie in wait for Jamie Smith
Bizarre search results, battles in court - is it game over for Google?
RICHARD GODWIN asks if time could finally be running out for the all-powerful behemoth
Finneas
He's won Grammys and Oscars, but his proudest achievement? His relationship with his sister... Billie Eilish
Has this legend of the London restaurant scene lost its cool?
Once upon a time —not so long ago, less than a decade — being a D&D restaurant meant something. Back then, Le Pont de la Tour and Coq d’ Argent were governed by swathes of the most moneyed City regulars; Sartoria offered a hangout on Savile Row as stylish as any of its neighbouring tailors; and Quaglino’s, until recently, was the place mere mortals were most likely to bump into Prince Harry or Mick Jagger.
Message to the Jews
Beware your liberal values those you see as allies are the vultures waiting for your demise
Are these the 18 ways that we could transform London?
The capital could actually be good, but we need some radical new rules
Change or die... London's eternal lesson to us all
Like the city it serves, the new Standard must build on the best of the past
The Tories are their own unique brand of special
Like Republicans, they're on a journey, but it couldn't be more different
Plane truths...the world's most loved and loathed airlines
From endless delays and frightening mishaps to delightful cabin crew, the differences between airlines can be astonishing. So which ones rule the air and which dontimpress?