Boris Johnson’s anxious wait for an official report into No 10parties continues as he faced calls to quit over the row.
The Prime Minister has been speaking to Tory MPs in an attempt to shore up his position while he waits for senior civil servant Sue Gray’s report on the parties in No 10 and Whitehall during the 2020 coronavirus lockdowns.
The report was expected to be handed to No 10 on Wednesday but had not been delivered by the time the Commons adjourned for the day, meaning Mr Johnson would not be able to make a statement to MPs on its findings.
It was understood to have still not been delivered by 7pm.
At Prime Minister’s Questions earlier, Mr Johnson rejected calls to resign and insisted he was “getting on with the job”, although he acknowledged there were people who “want me out of the way”.
The contents of the report could play a significant role in deciding the fate of his leadership, with Tory critics waiting for its findings before deciding to submit formal letters of no confidence in him or not.
An indication of how damaging it could be for the Government came when Scotland Yard chief Dame Cressida Dick announced a police inquiry was being carried out, based in part on evidence obtained by the investigation.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer suggested Mr Johnson had misled Parliament about Downing Street parties, something which would normally require a minister to resign.
Asked if he would now quit, the Prime Minister said: “No.”
Sir Keir said: “We now have the shameful spectacle of a Prime Minister of the United Kingdom being subject to a police investigation, unable to lead the country, incapable of doing the right thing and every day his Cabinet fail to speak out they become more and more complicit.”
He said Mr Johnson and his Government had “shown nothing but contempt for the decency, honesty and respect that define this country”.
Mr Johnson replied: “Of course he wants me out of the way – he does, and of course I don’t deny, for all sorts of reasons, many people may want me out of the way.”
But he said Sir Keir wanted him out because “he knows that this Government can be trusted to deliver”.
He added: “We’re – and in particular I am – getting on with the job.”
The issue of what form the Gray report will be published in appears to be a source of tension between the inquiry team and No 10.
It is simply a reflection of the fact that we have not received the findings and don’t know its format, that’s why it remains our intention to publish it as received
Sources close to the probe expect it to be published in full, although ultimately it is a matter for Mr Johnson.
Downing Street said it is the “intention” to publish the report in the format in which Mr Johnson receives it.
Labour could use parliamentary procedures in an attempt to force the publication of the full Gray report if Mr Johnson does not release it.
That could take the form of a “humble address”, effectively a message to the Queen demanding the publication of papers.
The steady stream of alleged breaches of lockdown rules have undermined the Prime Minister, but many critics have held off putting in formal letters of no confidence until Ms Gray’s report is released.
If Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee, receives 54 letters – from 15% of Tory MPs – a vote on Mr Johnson’s leadership would be held.
