Boris Johnson threw a glitzy bash for Tory MPs tonight hours after the Met confirmed Downing Street lockdown parties had broken the law.
The PM still appeared to be in denial over whether the bashes had breached strict rules despite the police finally issuing fines.
Pressed over Mr Johnson’s view, his spokesman said: “It’s for the Met to make that judgment, rather than the Prime Minister.”
Scotland Yard today said it would hand out 20 fines to people.
The PM hosted around 200 MPs for dinner at a central London hotel as he attempted to bolster his leadership and draw a line under the Partygate scandal.
Politicians were set to dine on salmon tart, chicken thighs and a chocolate praline dessert, washed down with fine wines.
Former Conservative MP and writer Gyles Brandreth was expected to deliver a morale-boosting after-dinner speech.
Despite intense pressure on Mr Johnson to quit, the war in Ukraine had led to some Conservative MPs rally round their leader.
But the fines could reignite the debate about the PM’s leadership.
Detectives have been probing 12 gatherings during the pandemic, including at least six events the PM is believed to have attended.
But after a two-month inquiry, launched by chief Dame Cressida Dick, Scotland Yard said it would not name individuals or specify which parties had broken the law.
The PM is not believed to be among those in the first wave of fines. His case is thought to be last of the pile as it is complicated by the fact Downing Street is his home as well as workplace.
The Met said a “significant amount” of material still had to be assessed and more may be fined.
Downing Street has promised to disclose if the PM does receive a fixed penalty notice but refused to say whether he will quit. After initially ruling out saying whether senior civil servants had been fined, No10 agreed to confirm if Cabinet Secretary Simon Case was found to have broken the law.
The PM tonight faced fresh calls to stand down for misleading the Commons by insisting no rules had been breached.
After the Mirror broke Partygate on December 1 last year, he told MPs: “All guidance was followed completely in No10.”
And with more revelations emerging shortly afterwards, he repeatedly denied Tories and himself had broken the law.
But his spokesman today said: “At all times, he has set out his understanding of events.”
Government Minister Will Quince admitted the parties “shouldn’t have happened”.
But he added: “Looking at the moment over in Ukraine and even worse over in Russia, I think it’s a brilliant thing we have a free press in this country that is able to ask these kinds of questions.”
Labour ’s Angela Rayner said the war should not be used as an excuse to save Mr Johnson.
The deputy leader added: “ Boris Johnson ’s Downing Street has been found guilty of breaking the law. The buck stops with the Prime Minister, who spent months lying to the public, which is why he’s got to go.”
Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey said: “If Boris Johnson thinks he can get away with Partygate by paying expensive lawyers and throwing junior staff to the wolves, he is wrong.”
Downing Street said the PM would come to the Commons once Operation Hillman ends and Sue Gray had set out her full probe. Bereaved relatives tearfully told Mr Johnson to “hold his head in shame” and quit over the parties as they led a silent procession to Downing Street for Covid victims.
Hundreds gathered at the National Covid Memorial Wall to mark its first anniversary and pay tribute to victims.
A petition was handed in to No10 to make the mural permanent.
