Boris Johnson has received his questionnaire from police investigating allegations of lockdown-breaching parties in No 10, Downing Street has said.
The move means the prime minister will have to provide a credible reason as to why he was at events held during Covid restrictions or face a fine.
A spokesperson said: “We can confirm the Prime Minister has received a questionnaire from the Metropolitan Police. He will respond as required.”
It comes just two days after the force announced it would begin sending questionnaires to some 50 alleged attendees of parties held during lockdown in No10.
The force said the questionnaire would ask for “an account and explanation of the recipient’s participation” in an event which is the subject of police inquiries. Those who are contacted will have seven days to respond.
The Met said contact would be made with alleged attendees of eight parties - including a “boozy” leaving do held for departing communications chief James Slack held on the evening before Prince Philip’s funeral on April 16, 2021.
Enquiries will also be made about an event allegedly held in Downing Street on November 13, 2020 – the same night that Mr Johnson’s former adviser Dominic Cummings left his post. It is claimed that loud music was heard coming from the flat where Mr Johnson lives with his wife Carrie and their two children.
The prime minister is set to argue that he was working in his Downing Street flat on the night of the alleged party, according to the Telegraph.
No10 on Friday sought to distance itself from a briefing by one of the prime minister’s allies claiming the Met would need to be “very certain” that Mr Johnson had broken the rules before fining him.
A senior Tory told The Times: “There is inevitably a degree of discretion here. Do you want the Met Police deciding who the prime minister is?”
But Downing Street later denied any suggestion that the Met would come under political pressure, saying: “This Government has always backed the police and fully respects their complete independence to carry out inquiries without fear or favour.”
Mr Johnson has previously said he would be happy to cooperate with the Met Police as they carry out their investigation.
Elsewhere, the Met’s investigation was complicated further on Thursday following the resignation of commissioner Cressida Dick, though she will remain in her post for a few weeks while a successor is chosen.
