Wednesday 25 May 2022 01:55 AM Partygate pictures from official photographers 'will be revealed today' as ... trends now
Boris Johnson is bracing for the release of yet more Partygate pictures, this time from Downing Street's official photographers, as Sue Gray prepares to make the findings of her long-awaited report public today.
Mr Johnson is expected to apologise to Parliament, the public and his own MPs over Partygate in a bid to soak up criticism from the official report into the row later today, even with more snaps from No. 10's vanity photographers poised to hit the press.
Deploying a 'masochism strategy', the Prime Minister will 'take responsibility' for lockdown rule-breaking in Downing Street, which is set to be savaged in the much-anticipated report.
Ministers are braced for Miss Gray to deliver her report to No. 10 this morning.
In a display of contrition, the PM will then make a statement to Parliament before holding a press conference and then addressing Tory MPs at a meeting of the backbench 1922 Committee.
'He's going to take it on the chin,' said one source. 'He will apologise, he'll say 'We got things wrong' and he'll take responsibility.
'But he'll also point out that he has already learned many of the lessons – he has made big changes in Downing Street. And he'll say it has doubled his resolve to deliver for the public.'
Another source predicted that the report would make clear that many others were at fault for the lax culture in No. 10 that allowed a series of rule-breaking events to take place, which have infuriated the public.
'It happened on his watch, so he has to take responsibility – and he's happy to say sorry,' the source said. 'But all that's changed since his last apology is that the police have concluded their investigations without giving him another fine.'
Nevertheless, Miss Gray's report is expected to deliver a scathing verdict on the culture at the heart of Government during the pandemic.
Boris Johnson is bracing for the release of yet more Partygate pictures, this time from Downing Street's official photographers, as Sue Gray prepares to make the findings of her long-awaited report public today
Deploying a 'masochism strategy', the Prime Minister will 'take responsibility' for lockdown rule-breaking in Downing Street, which is set to be savaged in the much-anticipated report (Johnson is pictured toasting during a Downing St. party)
The snaps were taken at a gathering in honour of the Downing Street's then Director of Communications Lee Cain, with eight people pictured standing closely together, as well as the photographer
Ministers are braced for Miss Gray (pictured in Westminster earlier this year) to deliver her report to No. 10 this morning
Her interim report in January criticised 'failures of leadership and judgment' in Downing Street and highlighted concerns about a culture of excessive drinking.
The PM has since restructured his No. 10 operation, leading to the departure of a number of senior figures who are expected to face criticism in today's report.
Downing Street has also imposed an alcohol ban outside of official functions.
Tory whips are on red alert for signs that more backbench MPs may put in letters of no confidence if the PM fails to address Miss Gray's concerns.
Tory critics last night hinted they may use Partygate to execute a coup.
Tom Tugendhat, the only senior Tory to confirm a leadership bid, said he was 'talking to colleagues' about the PM's future.
Former Tory chief whip Mark Harper plunged the knife in, saying it was 'not just the events, it's the fact he's not been straightforward about it'.
Tory veteran Sir Roger Gale added: 'He misled us from the despatch box. And, honourably, there is one answer.'
One leading rebel said: 'A lot of the 2019 intake are getting very unhappy... they are beginning to see that they will not hold their seats if Boris stays.
'The question is, have they got the guts to do something about it?'
Today's report is expected to name about 30 senior figures involved in rule-breaking events, including the Prime Minister and Cabinet Secretary Simon Case.
Officials found to have broken the rules could face disciplinary procedures. One insider predicted the report would make grim reading for the Government by setting out details of a string of events where rules were broken.
It was revealed last week that the report will detail how one Cabinet Office leaving do ended up in a boozy fight. A source said: 'A lot of the details of what went on are out there already. But when people see it all put together there will still be an impact.
'When people read the details of incident after incident it will be hard to escape the conclusion that this was not very clever and should have been stopped.'
Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during a cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street on May 24, 2022 in London, England. Photographs of Johnson sharing a drink in Downing Street in 2020 during full lockdown have reignited accusations against him, just before the release of a much-anticipated report on 'partygate'.
The leaks follow a fierce briefing war between No. 10 and Sue Gray's office following reports of 'secret' discussions between both sides
The report is also expected to contain photographs of some events, with people's faces blanked out. Mr Johnson, his wife Carrie and Chancellor Rishi Sunak were each fined £50 for their attendance at a so-called 'birthday party' in the Cabinet Room where the PM was presented with a cake between meetings at a time when indoor gatherings were banned.
The Metropolitan Police have faced questions this week over the failure to issue Mr Johnson with more fixed penalty notices following the emergence of a photo showing him raising a glass at a lockdown leaving do for outgoing communications chief Lee Cain in November 2020.
Others at the event were fined, but
