Tuesday 24 May 2022 02:31 PM Boris prepares to fight for survival after Partygate report trends now

Boris Johnson is preparing a desperate fight for survival with the Sue Gray report expected tomorrow - issuing a grovelling apology but vowing to cling on.

The PM is deep in the danger zone after the first Partygate photos of him boozing with aides surfaced, and there will almost certainly be more published alongside the top mandarin's assessment.

However, Mr Johnson is lining up a schedule of public appearances reminiscent of Tony Blair's 'masochism strategy' in the build-up to the Iraq War. Assuming the report is delivered tomorrow morning as anticipated, he will first take PMQs at noon, then make a statement in the Commons, and hold an extended press conference - before being grilled by livid Tory backbenchers at the 1922 Committee. 

The visual evidence of lockdown breaches is threatening to reignite a revolt that seemed to have fizzled out when the Met closed their investigation after only handing him one fine. 

Leaked images showed Mr Johnson apparently toasting his outgoing communications chief Lee Cain on November 13, 2020 - a time when social gatherings were banned.

Mr Johnson was said to have made a farewell speech praising Mr Cain as 'the only one of my staff who always answers the phone calls… day or night'. And the pair posed together wearing 'Get Brexit Done' boxing gloves.

Downing Street has insisted the premier returned to his grace-and-favour flat after about 15 minutes - but there are claims that he was personally responsible for pouring drinks for the toast.  

The Met has confirmed the event was among those that saw fines issued - but refused to say how many or who received them. Mr Johnson was not punished over the bash, but it is thought that Mr Cain and fellow spin doctor James Slack could have been at risk of a penalty.   

Fingers have been pointed at Dominic Cummings, who was ousted the same night after losing a power struggle and has since been waging a campaign for 'regime change' in No 10, for masterminding the leaks.

The situation has been inflamed by claims that Mr Johnson held a 'secret' meeting with Ms Gray in recent weeks where he urged her to abandon publication of the report.

Meanwhile, London Mayor Sadiq Khan has waded into the row over whether Scotland Yard was too lenient on the PM, calling on the force to explain its reasoning.   

In a round of interviews this morning, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps gave limited backing to the PM - insisting the toast in the latest photographs 'should not have happened'.  

He told BBC Breakfast: 'I think we, personally, find them very difficult to look at. I couldn't see my own dad for four months during this period because he was in hospital and we thought we'd lost him at one point.

'I think actually looking at this as well the Prime Minister will be disappointed.

'I think he's popped down there to raise a glass and say thank you to a long-term member of staff who is leaving. My view is it shouldn't have happened'

Mr Shapps declined to call it a party when pressed, instead saying: 'It's certainly a leaving event.'

The pictures were leaked to ITV News hours after Mr Cummings predicted more photos of events in No10 would emerge to coincide with the publication of Ms Gray's Partygate report. 

Government sources have argued that the 'brief' gathering did not amount to a party.

They added: 'He's in a suit, he's got his [ministerial] red box with him – he's at work – he's just dropped in to say goodbye to a long-serving staff member as any boss would. It's not a party.'

Mr Johnson is said to have made a speech thanking Mr Cain and stayed at the event for ten to 15 minutes before going to his flat.

Mr Johnson received a fixed-penalty notice over a birthday party in the Cabinet Room in June 2020 but was told he would face no further action over other gatherings covered by the Metropolitan Police's Operation Hillman inquiry. 

Tory MP Peter Aldous revealed today renewed calls for the PM to quit. Asked if he had withdrawn his letter of no confidence, Mr Aldous told GB News: 'I haven't, no. I thought long and hard back in late January, early February, as to whether I should do that,' he said.

'And I weighed up all manner of considerations and I concluded then that it would be best for the country, and dare I say it for the Conservative Party, if he did [resign].

'And I've revisited that decision over the last few months, and I've decided that really those reasons are still there.'

Fellow Conservative David Simmonds warned it would be 'difficult' for Mr Johnson to explain the images.

The MP for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I think most colleagues committed to their constituents that they would wait until they had sight of the full report from Sue Gray, I think that is still the case.

'But clearly it does create an issue. We had a vote which the Conservative Party was neutral on in Parliament that there would be an investigation about what was said. Clearly it does raise a new question that we were all told very clearly that there definitely had not been a party on the day in question and these photographs have emerged which suggest that that's not the case. We need to hear the Prime Minister's explanation for that.' 

Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross, who previously retracted his call for the PM to resign, said: 'To most, these pictures seem unjustifiable and wrong.'

Tory MP Sir Roger Gale said the PM's position was 'not tenable', adding: 'It's absolutely clear that there was a party. He misled us from the despatch box. And, honourably, there is one answer.'

But fellow Tory MP Peter Bone said of the image: 'I don't think it looks like that [a party] at all.'

It comes as Whitehall insiders allege Mr Johnson suggested to Sue Gray that there was no need to publish her full report into lockdown-busting events held in Downing Street because Scotland Yard had concluded their probe.

One source told the Times: 'They were exploring this idea of not having any report. It was being talked about. But politically they realised they couldn't do it.' 

Downing Street denied that Boris Johnson suggested to Sue Gray that she should drop her report.

The PM's official spokesman said: “This was a legitimate meeting about the process rather than the contents of the report.

“The Prime Minister did not ask her to drop the report or not proceed with the report.

“The Prime Minister commissioned the report, initially by the Cabinet Secretary, and wants it to be published.”

However, Mr Shapps did not offer quite such a categorical denial this morning.

He told Sky News: 'I wasn't in the room so I don't know that's the case.

'Exactly what was discussed, I don't know.

'Occasionally things get reported that are not entirely accurate, the civil service were there to make sure that all the correct processes were followed so I have no particular reason for concern about the two of them meeting.'

Confusion had surrounded the 'secret' discussions between Mr Johnson and the top civil servant about her investigation into lockdown breaches, with both sides pointing the finger at the other when questioned over who instigated the initial meeting between Mr Johnson and Mrs Gray's team.

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 yesterday 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. 

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

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