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The Met today refused once again to probe the Downing Street garden party, after Boris Johnson admitted he attended the gathering for 25 minutes but claimed he 'implicitly' believed it was a work event in a 'carefully-worded' apology.
Scotland Yard reiterated there position that it was a matter for the Cabinet Office 'based on the absence of evidence' and its 'policy' not to investigate historical lockdown breaches.
Legal experts said the PM's phrasing was 'carefully worded' to suggest his actions fell within the guidance.
Met Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick (pictured) is facing demands for Boris Johnson to be interviewed under caution as part of a full criminal investigation into the ‘illegal gathering’ on May 20, 2020
Adam Wagner, an expert in Covid rules at Doughty Street Chambers, said: 'The Johnson apology was carefully worded and obviously lawyered.
'He said that he attended because he ''believed implicitly that this was a work event'', that ''with hindsight'' he should have sent everyone back inside, and ''technically'' it could be said to fall within the guidance.
'The apology - when read carefully - was to the millions of people who ''wouldn't see it in that way'', but because he also said technically it could be said to fall within the guidance he is implicitly saying the millions of people are wrong in their interpretation.'
One leading defence lawyer said the
