Rishi Sunak faces answering Partygate police questions under caution, it emerged tonight.
The Tory Chancellor has joined the list of more than 50 people to receive a questionnaire from the Met Police to explain any involvement in gatherings at Downing Street.
It’s understood the Chancellor has received the form, and it will be returned within seven days as requested by Scotland Yard.
The Met is looking into 12 alleged gatherings held across Whitehall and Downing Street during lockdown rules under Operation Hillman.
Mr Sunak previously confirmed he was at Boris Johnson ’s birthday do, held by No10 staff and the PM’s wife Carrie on June 19, 2020.
But he insisted he had been present at the Cabinet Room for a routine meeting to discuss Covid.
Earlier this month, he appeared to suggest he was not expecting to receive a form to complete.
Asked on Sky News earlier this month if he expected to receive a form, he replied: "No... well, I don't know."
He said at the time he did not believe he had broken any Covid rules.
When previously asked about the allegations, Mr Sunak said he went to the Cabinet Room as he had for "100, 200, God knows how many other Covid meetings".
Boris Johnson has already filled out the same questionnaire and police are considering whether to issue him a fixed penalty notice for breaking lockdown laws.
A leaked version of the form revealed this week that the PM was asked basic questions which lawyers believe could easily be batted away.
The forms asked respondents to provide a "lawful exception" or "reasonable excuse" for their lockdown-busting behaviour.
They added those accused can provide a written statement "under caution" - making Mr Johnson the first Prime Minister to face answering police questions in this way.
Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner said: "This is an embarrassment that for the first time in UK history we have a PM interviewed under police caution."
