Evening Summary
Here the latest key developments at a glance:
- The Metropolitan police has received 300 images and 500 pages of documents about the partygate allegations from the Sue Gray inquiry. It is working “at pace” to contact people present, who may face a fine, it said.
- Boris Johnson refused to commit to resigning if he is fined by police for breaking lockdown rules.
- The prime minister initally refused to commit to publishing the report in full once the police inquiry has concluded, but said later he is “considering” the publication of further details.
- A short while later, Downing Street said Sue Gray will be given the chance to publish an “update” of her findings in full once the police inquiry is over.
- Snap polls into how the public is reacting to today’s events in the Commons and the details that have been published from Sue Gray’s report so far are fairly consistent: Opinium found 64% want the PM to resign, YouGov 63% and Savanta 69%.
- A meeting of Boris Johnson, Tory MPs and ministers resulted in different verdicts from MPs about the PM’s future, with some saying he will be safe for now after he turned the mood, while others predicted partygate and the PM’s troubles aren’t going anywhere.
-
The Tory MP Angela Richardson has become the first member of the government to resign over partygate, and said she stepped down as Michael Gove’s parliamentary private secretary last week over the Sue Gray report, citing “failings at Number Ten Downing Street that let us all down” and “deep disappointment” in the prime minister.
- The government has confirmed plans to scrap an order forcing all NHS staff in England to get vaccinated against Covid, in a U-turn that will prevent an exodus of thousands of frontline health workers.
- Foreign secretary Liz Truss has tested positive for Covid, shortly after she attended a packed Commons session and Tory MP meeting without wearing a face mask.
That’s all from me, this blog will now close, goodnight.
Updated
My colleagues Rowena Mason and Jessica Elgot have written up a report about the Sue Gray findings that have been published so far, and Boris Johnson’s latest attempt to cling on:
