Boris Johnson has been plunged into a fresh Partygate crisis as Scotland Yard reviews its decision not to probe a No10 Christmas quiz.
It comes as the Mirror reveals a new picture of the Prime Minister at the “virtual” gathering held while London was under Tier 2 Covid restrictions.
It shows him flanked by three members of staff at the desk where he read out quiz questions to teams across the building on December 15, 2020.
One is wearing tinsel and another a Santa hat, with crisps and an open bottle of prosecco in front of them.
The PM had denied breaking any rules when the Mirror first revealed last December that the quiz had taken place a year earlier, when social mixing was banned in the capital. And cabinet minister Nadhim Zahawi had said the gathering could not have been a party because no alcohol was present.
When the Met began its probe of Downing Street events it did not include the quiz because evidence available at the time “did not meet the threshold for criminal investigation”. But tonight it said: “That assessment is now being reviewed.”
By the end of this week the Met will start to contact more than 50 people thought to have been involved in the Downing Street parties. Detectives from Operation Hillman will send questionnaires that have “legal status and must be answered truthfully” and within seven days. Some could be interviewed in person. The PM and wife Carrie are expected to be among those contacted.
Mr Johnson’s allies have said he will not quit even if he is fined by police.
But a former Cabinet minister said: “If Sue Gray finds he lied to Parliament unequivocally or depending what action police take, that’s it. Either of those two things would be terminal.” Another senior Tory suggested the PM’s days are numbered, saying: “The trend is clear; it’s just a matter of the timetable.”
Tory nerves were heightened as the PM’s former top aide Dominic Cummings tweeted: “There’s waaaaay better pics than that floating around, including in the [Downing Street] flat”.
In the Commons today the PM was questioned over the new photo and claimed it was “completely inaccurate”.
But he finally committed to publishing the full Sue Gray report once the police have finished their probe.
In the photo, Mr Johnson appears to put a badge on his jacket. That evening staff got No10 pins as a Christmas gift from the PM. Downing Street has said it was a “virtual quiz”, but admitted “those in the office for work may have attended virtually from their desks.”
The Mirror revealed last year that dozens of staff had huddled in groups around their office computers. Sources said some stayed in No10 socialising for hours after the quiz finished at 9.30pm.
Ian Blackford, SNP leader at Westminster, said: “This latest boozy lockdown party picture is damning and it is crucial the Met look to investigate it.”
Labour MP Sam Tarry said it was “absurd” the PM could “say with a straight face that no rules were broken, even when presented with evidence”. Covid law expert Adam Wagner said: “[It] should be sufficient evidence to trigger a criminal investigation.”
Scotland Yard said it is not investigating claims No10 “blackmailed” MPs seeking to remove the PM from office. It said “no criminal offences have been identified” after officers spoke to senior Tory William Wragg about his claims.
Mr Johnson tonight promoted health advisor Samantha Jones to interim Permanent Secretary and chief operating officer of the Office of the PM.
