A Tory MP has claimed the Prime Minister was "ambushed with a cake" during an alleged lockdown-busting birthday party.
Bournemouth West MP Conor Burns made the remark while defending Boris Johnson in an interview on Tuesday with Channel 4 News.
It comes after ITV claimed Mr Johnson celebrated his birthday on June 19, 2020 — when indoor social gatherings were banned — by sharing cake with up to 30 people in the Cabinet Room including his wife Carrie and his interior designer Lulu Lytle.
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Mr Burns, Minister of State for Northern Ireland, told Channel 4: "The Prime Minister was out on visits. He came back. He was working in the Cabinet Room. People came in and presented him with the cake on his birthday. They sang Happy Birthday. He was there for about 10 minutes. It was not a premeditated, organised party in that sense."
Interviewer Cathy Newman pointed out invitations were reportedly sent out, to which Mr Burns replied: "Well he, as far as I can see, he was in a sense ambushed with a cake. They came to his office with a cake. They sang Happy Birthday. He was there for 10 minutes. I don't think most people looking at that at home would characterise that as a party."
Ms Newman replied: "I mean, ambushed with a cake? It's just sort of farcical isn't it, the way you're all trying to scurry round and defend him?"
The MP said: "He's our leader. I support him. I want him to continue as Prime Minister... Of course we want to draw a line under this and that's why we want the Sue Gray report to come forward as soon as she is ready."
It comes after Sky News reported Ms Gray, the civil servant investigating parties at Downing Street, has received photos of events showing Mr Johnson and others "close together with wine bottles".
Sources have told ITV that Ms Gray's report could be released on Tuesday evening or Wednesday. "It will, I am told, be a report that will make for very uncomfortable reading for the PM and Tory MPs," said the channel's political editor Robert Peston.
Mr Peston added the Prime Minister may already have seen the report. Downing Street has said the Government wants the report to be published "as soon as possible".
Metropolitan Police is investigating "a number of events" for potential Covid breaches. But Sky News reports that the Met has not raised an objection to the Cabinet Office inquiry being released before its criminal investigation concludes.
The Prime Minister's official spokesperson has told reporters that talks are taking place between Ms Gray's inquiry team and the Metropolitan Police to decide what can be published from her investigation into the 'partygate' row.
Read the latest updates on Ms Gray's report here.
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