Monday 23 May 2022 04:19 PM First image surfaces of PM at Partygate bash trends now

The first pictures of Boris Johnson drinking at a lockdown-busting Downing Street event surfaced today as No10 braces for the Sue Gray report.

Images published by ITV News showed the PM with a glass in hand making a toast with around eight other people in shot.

It is believed to be a leaving do in November 2020, for which Scotland Yard recently issued fines - although not to Mr Johnson himself. 

Downing Street has indicated it will not resist the inclusion in Ms Gray's looming report of potentially dozens of images from events that broke the rules, in the hope they can help convince the public that there were not 'raves' going on. 

But the images were heralded by former No10 chief Dominic Cummings, who said earlier that he expected pictures to surface within 48 hours and be hugely damaging to the PM.

It comes with Downing Street embroiled in confusion over the discussions between Mr Johnson and the top civil servant about her investigation into lockdown breaches in Whitehall - due to be released within days.

There were a series of claims and counter-claims over the weekend about who wanted the 'procedural' meeting a few weeks ago, with Downing Street aides saying it was Ms Gray. A senior press officer was even dramatically removed from Ms Gray's team yesterday after suggesting she had not requested it. 

Treasury minister Simon Clarke said in interviews this morning that the mandarin 'instigated' the encounter.

But within hours the PM's official spokesman contradicted him, conceding that officials initially suggested the talks before Ms Gray's team sent an official diary invitation. 

The Lib Dems have tried to turn up the heat on the premier by tabling a motion that could force the release of information about contacts between Mr Johnson and Ms Gray - who has a reputation for being fiercely independent.  

On a visit to a school this morning, Mr Johnson insisted it will not be 'much longer' until Ms Gray's report is published, after Scotland Yard wrapped up their investigation last week.   

There are claims Cabinet Secretary Simon Case is facing particularly heavy criticism from Ms Gray, even though he was not personally fined over the scandal.

Mr Johnson said he would not give a 'running commentary' on the developments.

Asked if the report was still an independent one, the premier said: 'Of course, but on the process you are just going to have to hold your horses a little bit longer.

'I don't believe it will be too much longer and then I will be able to say a bit more.'

The report is being finalised after the conclusion of the separate inquiry by the Metropolitan Police, which saw 83 people handed at least one fixed penalty notice each in relation to eight separate dates. 

Mr Johnson received just one fine, for his 56th birthday gathering in June 2020 when indoor mixing was banned - the same event that saw both his wife Carrie and Chancellor Rishi Sunak given penalties.

Downing Street breathed a sigh of relief last week after police confirmed they would not be getting any further punishments.

However, there have been reports Mr Case will come in for 'stinging criticism' in the Gray report.

'As the head of the civil service, the ultimate responsibility was his,' one source told the Telegraph.

Meanwhile, there is a row about a meeting between Mr Johnson and Ms Gray, which took place several weeks ago.

The PM's official spokesman tried to clear up the situation this morning by saying No10 officials initially made the request.

Asked whether officials told Ms Gray's team that Mr Johnson would like to meet her, the spokesman told reporters: 'No, this was not at the request of the Prime Minister.

'It wasn't framed in that way. It was suggested it may be helpful to have that meeting.

'Obviously Sue Gray is independent, it is up to her whether she proceeds with any meeting with regards to her investigation.'

Pushed on why No 10 officials had suggested a meeting, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'There were reports, public reports, that the (Metropolitan Police's) Hillman investigation might be coming to a conclusion, so it was discussed that it might be useful to give an overview of what Sue Gray and her team were planning in regards to publication and timings – the publication following the conclusion of the report.

'I think those discussions had taken place at official level already.'

The spokesman added: 'As you would expect for reports like this, it is understandable that there would be a need to share information on things like timings and publication process because obviously there is a process for No 10 and the Prime Minister that would flow off the back of Sue Gray completing her report.

'So that then helps with our planning purposes and things like that.'

The spokesman said the meeting was minuted, but insisted the record would not be released.#

'I believe it was minuted in the usual way,' they said.

Pressed on whether the information would be made public, he replied: 'No, it was a private meeting. We wouldn't publish details of a private meeting.'

Downing Street also said it would not be publishing a 'cast list' of who joined the meeting from both sides.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said reports of the meeting was a 'new low' for the Government.

During a tour of a large Sainsbury's store in Nine Elms, south London, on Monday, Sir Keir urged for Ms Gray's full report into partygate to be published as soon as possible.

He told journalists: 'I always had a concern that as we got to the publication of the Sue Gray report, there will be attempts by the Government to undermine her and undermine the report.

'That's what we've seen going on over the weekend in recent days, a new low for the Government.

'What we do know is there was

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