CABINET minister Liz Truss today led a defence of Boris Johnson by urging MPs to wait for Scotland Yard’s findings on “Partygate” rather than moving against him after a top civil servant’s report into the scandal.
With Westminster braced for Sue Gray to deliver her report into the series of gatherings in Downing Street, possibly as early as today, the Foreign Secretary issued the plea as some Tory MPs were considering sending in letters of no confidence in the Prime Minister. Ministers have for days urged Tory backbenchers to wait for the Gray report before deciding whether to act against Mr Johnson.
However, in an apparent change in government tactics, Foreign Secretary Ms Truss said MPs should now wait for the Metropolitan Police to report.
The force announced yesterday that it was investigating a series of potentially Covid law-busting “events” in Downing Street and Whitehall when millions of people across Britain were following lockdown rules or other restrictions.
“We need to wait for the results of the Sue Gray report and the police investigation,” Ms Truss told Sky News.
The Met police inquiry could take weeks, even months, to be completed.
Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner said: “No one in Britain needs the Sue Gray report or the police to know that Boris Johnson needs to go. He can’t kick this into the long grass anymore.” However, anger among Tory MPs over “Partygate” has dissipated in recent days, especially with the threat of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.
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?