Boris Johnson loyalist mounted a desperate rearguard action around the beleaguered Prime minister as he faced yet more damning Partygate claims.
Senior Cabinet ministers including Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries downplayed the seriousness of the PM attending the bash with cake and nibbles in a No10 stateroom in 2020.
They insisted that the gathering of around 30 people specifically to mark the PM's 56th birthday in June 2020 could be seen as a extension of the workplace.
Ms Dorries also took to Twitter today to lash out at senior Tories including former Scottish party leader Ruth Davidson, who criticised the Prime minister in the wake of the ITV News' revelations.
But other normally loyal ministers like Transport Secretary Grant Shapps were tepid in their backing for the PM this morning.
On a morning media round he admitted he was 'upset' by the latest allegations.
And other ministers said to have an eye on replacing Mr Johnson have yet to comment.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak was understood to have briefly attended as the gathering was breaking up as he entered the room to attend a Covid strategy meeting.
The Loyalists:
Nadine Dorries - Culture Secretary
Ms Dorries was one of the first out of the blocks to defend the PM last night afer the allegations emerged.
Boris Johnson with a birthday cake earlier on June 19, 2020, which he was given on a visit to a school in Hemel Hempstead
Ms Dorries was one of the first out of the blocks to defend the PM last night afer the allegations emerged. She tweeted: 'So, when people in an office buy a cake in the middle of the afternoon for someone else they are working in the office with and stop for 10 minutes to sing happy birthday and then go back to their desks, this is now called a party?'
And she continued her spirited backing for the PM, taking on his internal Tory critics after former Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson criticised him.
In a tweet, Ms Davidson had said her partner 'shares a birthday with the Prime Minister' but did not think to break any rules in 2020, to which Ms Dorries responded: 'Ruth, you were at home with your partner. The PM was working in Downing St with 100s of staff in Covid war room offices. Where/what is the comparison?'
Jacob Rees-Mogg - Commons Leader
Jacob Rees-Mogg walked out of No10 at shortly after 10.30am and straight over to cameras to vow loyalty to Mr Johnson.
News of the Metropolitan Police's investigation into Partygate broke as the Cabinet held its weekly meeting in Downing Street,.
Jacob Rees-Mogg walked out of No10 at shortly after 10.30am and straight over to cameras to vow loyalty to Mr Johnson.
'The leadership of this country that Boris Johnson has had, has been so brilliant that he has got us through this incredibly difficult period,' he said.
'He has got all the big decision right and we have opened up faster than any other European country thanks to the Prime Minister and I'm honoured to be under his leadership.'
George Eustice - Environment Secretary
Environment Secretary George Eustice (pictured today) was sent out to bat for the PM last night
Environment Secretary George Eustice was sent out to bat for the PM last night. He told reporters: 'What really happened here is a small group of staff who had been working closely with the Prime Minister brought in a birthday
