UK Politics

Two-thirds (66 per cent) of voters believe Boris Johnson should resign if he is heavily criticised in Sue Gray’s report on the Partygate scandal, which could be released as early as Wednesday.And in findings which will trouble Conservative MPs anxious about holding on to their seats in the next general election, more than a quarter (26 per cent) of those who backed the Tories in 2019 said they were less likely to do so again if Mr Johnson stays on as leader.The figures were scarcely reduced from the height of the Partygate furore in January, and suggested that Mr Johnson has earned little credit from voters for escaping with only one £50 fine from the Metropolitan Police inquiry.One Tory critic of the PM told The Independent it was “urgent” that MPs move against him by submitting letters of no confidence in his leadership, while another said it was clear Mr Johnson was now an “electoral liability” who would drag the party down in future ballots.The findings, in an exclusive Savanta poll for The Independent, came as fresh details emerged of parties at 10 Downing Street during the Covid lockdowns of 2020 and 2021.Insiders described chaotic mid-lockdown parties dubbed “Wine-Time Fridays” where bins would overflow with empty bottles of alcohol and No10 would be left a “mess” with some revellers staying overnight.Speaking to BBC Panorama, three individuals described gatherings they felt were condoned by the prime minister as he was “grabbing a glass for himself”.The current and former staffers said the culture was set by Mr Johnson himself, claiming he “wanted to be liked” and for staff to be able to “let their hair down”.The details followed the publication of a leaked photograph showing Mr Johnson raising a glass at a leaving drinks event for his former spin doctor Lee Cain eight days after the implementation of England’s second lockdown.Amid growing backbench concern about the impact of the Partygate revelations on the PM’s standing among voters, one senior MP told The Independent: “We can’t go on lurching from crisis to crisis like this.”Responding to the poll findings, Sir Roger Gale said: “I think we are discovering that from being an electoral asset, he is becoming an electoral liability – something my colleagues may want to take on board.”The Savanta poll found that 46 per cent of voters believe Johnson should have resigned after receiving a police fine for breaking Covid laws, with a further 20 per cent saying he should do so only if heavily criticised in the Gray report. Some 47 of those who voted Tory in 2019 said he should go if condemned by Gray, against 46 per cent who want him to stay.Fewer than one voter in five (19 per cent) believes Mr Johnson has told the truth about parties at 10 Downing Street, compared to an overwhelming 67 per cent who think he lied. And 37 per cent said it would make them less likely to back the Tories if he remains leader.One MP who has submitted a letter of no confidence in the PM told The Independent: “This poll tallies with what I am hearing on the doorstep. My colleagues urgently need to consider not just the moral implications of Partygate but the electoral implications as well.”Downing Street is braced for full details of 16 lockdown-breaching events to be revealed in Ms Gray’s Partygate report, expected to be published within days and possibly as early as Wednesday.In an interim report in January, the senior civil servant blasted “failures of leadership” at No 10 and said some of the behaviour described was “difficult to justify” at a time when the public were being told to stay at home and avoid social contact except for essential work purposes.Around 30 senior individuals have been warned they will be named for possible criticism in the full report, which was delayed for four months while police conducted their own investigation.Downing Street was forced to deny reports that Mr Johnson had suggested at a meeting earlier this month that Ms Gray could ditch the full report, asking her: “Is there much point in doing it now that it’s all out there?”The PM’s official spokesperson told reporters he “did not recognise” the account, adding: “The prime minister did not ask her to drop the report or not proceed with the report. It was the prime minister who commissioned the report and he wants the report to be published.”It is expected that the report will be published within hours of being handed over to Mr Johnson, who will then make a statement to MPs before facing Conservative backbenchers in a meeting of the 1922 Committee which could be crucial to deciding his fate.Committee chair Sir Graham Brady must call a vote on the leadership if he receives 54 no confidence letters from MPs, with Mr Johnson then needing a majority of MPs’ votes to survive.Some 13 MPs have publicly declared they have submitted letters, though some may have withdrawn them, while others could have done so privately, Rumours circulating in Westminster on Tuesday suggested that Sir Graham may have amassed as many as 40 letters, though he never confirms the figure until the threshold is passed.One long-serving Tory who is considering submitting a letter reflected the grim mood among MPs, telling The Independent: “The whole thing is rotten. He’s got to go.”Today’s Savanta poll found continued dissatisfaction with Mr Johnson’s performance as prime minister, though his overall rating of -26 (34 per cent thinking he was doing well and 60 per cent badly) was slightly improved on the -28 score he recorded in April.But there was no clear frontrunner to succeed him, with voters choosing Mr Johnson as the best available Tory leader on 22 per cent, ahead of Rishi Sunak or Jeremy Hunt on 8 and Liz Truss or Sajid Javid on 6. Some 44 per cent of those who voted Conservative in 2019 said Mr Johnson was their favoured leader.And Labour’s lead over the Tories remained at six points, with Keir Starmer’s party on 40 per cent (unchanged since a similar poll in April), Conservatives on 34 (unchanged) and Liberal Democrats 10 (down one).Sir Keir Starmer’s satisfaction rating of -3 was better than that of any government minister polled.But almost half of those questioned (48 per cent) agreed that Starmer should quit as Labour leader – as he has promised to do – if fined by Durham Police for sharing beers and curry with staff under Covid restrictions.Voters overwhelmingly – 59 per cent to 17 per cent – said that the so-called “Beergate” incident involving the Labour leader was less serious than the Partygate events at No 10.- Savanta questioned 2,244 British adults on 21-22 May. More

A former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has urged his own government to “pause” over controversial plans to create an effective amnesty for terrorists. Julian Smith also said he was “deeply uncomfortable” with the idea of voting for the proposed legislation, although he said he acknowledged there was no easy way forward.Ministers believe the plans, first unveiled in the Queen’s Speech earlier this month, will allow them to keep their pledge to protect ex-soldiers from possible prosecutions.There was an outcry when the idea of an amnesty was first floated, after it emerged it would also have to apply to terrorists.In a bid to get around that problem, ministers announced that only those who cooperate with a new South Africa-style Truth and Reconciliation Commission, would receive what will amount to an amnesty. Earlier this week the Independent revealed that Labour planned to oppose the legislation, warning that it failed the relatives of those murdered by terrorists as well as veterans themselves.In response, government sources accused Labour of “playing politics” with “sensitive and emotive” issues. Just hours later Mr Smith urged his own government to “look again” at part of the proposals, that would prevent inquests and civil actions related to the Troubles.He said: “Today many victims feel that they have been hit by a double whammy with this Bill. Their route to justice cut off, and at the same time their route to the truth restricted.”He went on: “The shutting down of civil cases and of inquests, and the way it is done through this Bill, is also a source of much anger and worry.”Civil actions have provided an effective mechanism for victims to obtain discovery and reparations.”He added: “On investigations and on inquests, I … urge the Government to pause and to listen to the voices of our valued Irish partners in the GFA (Good Friday Agreement), to Northern Ireland parties, and to the victims and survivors. I hope too that the Government will reflect on how it can reframe this Bill in order to gain the trust required to help deliver a resolution.”Mr Smith told MPs he was “deeply uncomfortable by the idea of voting for a Bill that will formalise immunity for those who have committed murder and other crimes, but I do however acknowledge that in the range of policy options that the Government is faced with, none are straightforward.”Other MPs also criticised the plans. East Belfast DUP MP Gavin Robinson said that the proposals drive a “coach and horses through the pursuit of justice’’.The families of Troubles victims also told the prime minister the legislation was “an affront to all modern standards of decency”.The Relatives for Justice group delivered a letter to 10 Downing Street, warning the law would foster “division and hurt” rather than promote “reconciliation or healing”.The government has said that the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill will provide better outcomes for victims, survivors and veterans. More

Members of the PCS public service union have voted to back national strike action over a 2 per cent pay offer at a time when inflation is running at almost five times that rate. With around 200,000 members, the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) is the largest civil service union, representing workers in venues like benefit and tax offices.The strike vote came as Boris Johnson signalled that workers across the public sector can expect below-inflation in this summer’s pay round. The prime minister warned at cabinet that allowing wages to keep up with prices, currently rising at 9 per cent annually, would risk an “inflationary spiral” pushing up the cost of mortgages and other essentials.And he made clear that ministers are ready to overrule generous recommendations from pay review bodies for groups like police and teachers in the coming months. Delegates to the PCS conference in Brighton agreed to hold a statutory industrial action ballot over pay and pensions in September.Mark Serwotka, the PCS general secretary, said: “The sheer size of this vote shows the very real anxiety and anger our members feel at the way they have been treated by this government. “To vote for strike action is a massive step, but the actions of the government have left us with no alternative.” Earlier, Mr Serwotka told the conference that public sector workers who kept the country running during the Covid pandemic were now being chided by ministers for working from home and threatened with 90,000 job losses.“Throughout the pandemic our members worked hard providing critical frontline services,” he said. “Despite our hard work, the government attacked us. They came for our integrity, accusing us of being lazy because we worked from home. “Let me tell you: unlike the prime minister, we weren’t being distracted by cheese. We kept the country running, providing universal credit to almost 10 million people, furlough to almost 6 million people, keeping our borders open, keeping the roads safe.“Then government came for our pensions but still we carried on working, doing our bit, making people’s lives easier.“Then the government came for our dignity, Jacob Rees-Mogg sticking Post-it notes on computers, demanding we returned to desks which, subsequently it transpired weren’t there. But still we carried on working, getting on with our jobs.  “But then they came for our jobs. They announced plans to close 42 Department for Work and Pensions [DWP] offices, ten Insolvency Service offices and, just ten days ago, told us one in five civil servant’s jobs would go. “They didn’t listen to us when we carried on working, so maybe now it’s time for us to stop working. It’s time to tell this rotten government: ‘Enough is enough’.” Recommendations on pay rises for groups like police, teachers and NHS workers are expected from independent pay bodies before the summer.But they can be overruled by ministers in relevant departments, who are facing the prospect of hikes of 9 per cent or more if pay is to keep pace with inflation.Addressing the regular weekly meeting of cabinet in 10 Downing Street, Mr Johnson backed a warning from Treasury minister Simon Clarke that awards of this size would risk fuelling inflation further.The PM’s official spokesperson refused to say whether ministers will act to rein in recommended rises which are perceived to be too large.But he said: “The government has already pledged to increase public sector spending and is awaiting decisions by public sector review bodies.“However ministers made clear the risk of triggering higher inflation must be part of considerations when deciding pay awards this year.”The spokesperson did not rule out ministers overriding the decisions of the review bodies.“That wasn’t the suggestion the prime minister said and I don’t want to jump ahead of the independent process,” said the spokesperson. “You’ll know the government has the capability to do that in the purely hypothetical sense.“The point that ministers were emphasising is that a spiralling inflation will do more to damage people’s take-home pay than limited pay restraint.” More

A local councillor in Wales has resigned just weeks into the job because people repeatedly accused him of being the famous street artist Banksy.William Gannon won the race to serve the people of Pembroke Dock in Pembrokeshire, a rural area in southwest Wales, at the local elections earlier this month.Mr Gannon, known as “Bill”, has worked as a community artist for 40 years and used to operate in the same locations and do similar work to Banksy, whose iconic work can be found in several cities across the UK. More

We expect the report from Sue Gray, the senior civil servant, into lockdown-breaking parties in Downing Street to be published on Wednesday. The prime minister is expected to adopt a “masochism strategy” of making a statement in the Commons, followed by a news conference and an address to Conservative MPs in a private meeting.The report has assumed an almost mythical status in British politics, especially after its publication was postponed in January, because the police had decided that the allegations were so serious that they warranted a criminal investigation.Now that it is finally going to see the light of day, Independent readers will no doubt have more questions, and I will be here on Thursday lunchtime to try to answer as many as I can.The announcement by the police that they had completed their inquiries raised questions about how they came to their decisions, issuing just one penalty notice to the prime minister for the gathering to celebrate his birthday in between meetings, which had seemed to be one of the less serious allegations.Those questions were intensified by the publication of the photographs showing Boris Johnson raising a toast at what looked very much like a party to mark the departure of Lee Cain, the prime minister’s deputy head of communications, in November 2020. While some of the people attending that gathering were issued with fines by the police, the prime minister himself was not even asked to fill in a police questionnaire about it.Once we have read Gray’s report, and seen more photographs that are expected to be published in it, and once we have heard what the prime minister has to say about it all, it will be time to step back and try to make sense of it all.How on earth did it happen? Why did the prime minister tell parliament that the guidance was always followed when he must have known that this claim was dubious at best? Downing Street staff were reported by BBC Panorama on Tuesday night to have watched their boss in the Commons with disbelief: “We were watching it all live and we just sort of looked at each other in disbelief like – why? Why is he denying this?”And yet Conservative MPs still seem to be reluctant to move against Johnson. Nor is the Sue Gray report the end of the matter. There will now be another investigation by the Commons committee of privileges, to determine whether the prime minister “knowingly misled” parliament by saying when the allegations were first reported that “the rules were followed at all times”.If you have a question about anything to do with what is known as Partygate (despite my attempt to ban journalists from adding “gate” to any controversy), submit it now, or when I join you live at 1pm on Thursday 26 May for the “Ask Me Anything” event.To get involved all you have to do is register to submit your question in the comments below. If you’re not already a member, click “sign up” in the comments box to leave your question. Don’t worry if you can’t see your question – they may be hidden until I join the conversation to answer them. Then join us live on this page at 1pm as I tackle as many questions as I can. More

Poland’s prime minister has criticised the fresh battle between the UK and EU over the Northern Ireland Protocol during the war in Ukraine, saying: “Only Putin will be happy.”“United we are strong, divided we are very weak,” Mateusz Morawiecki warned – calling on the two sides to “compromise’, rather than risk a damaging trade war.The warning is potentially embarrassing for Boris Johnson, who sees Poland’s right-wing government as a key ally in a changing Europe, a way to outflank the EU’s big two of Germany and France.The criticism also weakens a key argument for the prime minister remaining in No 10 despite the Partygate scandal – that his resignation would weaken the fight against Russia’s assault on Ukraine.The UK will table legislation next month to tear up the key parts of the Protocol, risking trade retaliation for what the EU will consider to be a breach of international law.It would not only remove border checks in the Irish Sea, but target the role of the European Court of Justice in overseeing disputes and restore the UK’s ability to decide VAT rates.Mr Morawiecki told the BBC: “Trade wars are a lose-lose situation. Poland wants to be as strong a partner for the UK as is possible – we want to work towards a compromise.“Only Putin and our enemies will be happy with yet another disagreement between such close partners as the United Kingdom and the European Union.”Mr Morawiecki said he is trying “to calm down the situation between France and the United Kingdom as much as possible”, pointing to perhaps the key opponent of the UK’s unilateral move.Pushed on the UK threat to rip-up the Brexit deal, he added: “In the current circumstances in particular, where we have such a brutal invasion, it should be a wake-up call for those who want to disagree on anything.”The UK argues the legislation is needed to remove the Irish Sea trade border and persuade the Democratic Unionist Party to end its boycott of power-sharing at Stormont.The EU insists it has put forward proposals to ease the burden of checks and points to the UK’s refusal to sign up to common veterinary rules to reduce the need for much of the bureaucracyLast week, Mr Johnson admitted he signed up to the trade barriers created by the Northern Ireland Protocol – while saying he hoped the EU would not “apply” them.The legislation has not yet been published, but is expected to be released within weeks – and could be voted through the Commons as early as next month.Jeffrey Donaldson, the DUP leader, insisted there must be no climbdown, ahead of a meeting with the Irish Taoiseach on Wednesday.Dublin must choose whether to “uphold the core principles of Belfast/Good Friday Agreement” or back a Protocol “which undermines all of this”. He added: “They can’t have both.” More

Boris Johnson accused of lying to MPs over images showing him drinking at leaving doDowning Street insiders have described chaotic mid-lockdown parties dubbed “Wine-Time Fridays” where bins would overflow with empty bottles of alcohol and No10 would be left a “mess”.Speaking to BBC Panorama three individuals described gatherings they felt were condoned by Boris Johnson as he was “grabbing a glass for himself”.The current and former staffers said the culture was set by Mr Johnson himself, claiming he “wanted to be liked” and for staff to be able to “let their hair down”.The damaging details follow the publication of a leaked photograph showing Mr Johnson raising a glass at a leaving drinks event for his former spin doctor at the height of England’s second lockdown.Earlier, Downing Street has denied claims the prime minister suggested to Sue Gray she should drop plans to publish her long-awaited report into the Partygate scandal during a “secret meeting” last month.Boris Johnson’s official spokesperson said: “The prime minister did not ask her to drop the report or not proceed with the report.”Show latest update

1653404012Sinn Fein president accuses Boris Johnson of using NI Protocol as ‘distraction’Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald has accused Boris Johnson of using the Northern Ireland Protocol as “distraction” from his own domestic problems.The Sinn Fein leadership team is at Westminster to stress a need to re-establish a powersharing administration in Belfast. The DUP is blocking the formation of an executive in protest at the post-Brexit trading arrangements.The government last week announced an intent to table legislation to unilaterally scrap parts of the protocol deal it signed with the EU.“We’ve made the case very clearly that Boris Johnson needs to stop playing games, stop using Ireland as either a bargaining chip in this confrontation with the European system, or indeed as a distraction in his domestic affairs,” Ms McDonald told reporters at Westminster.“We need good faith. We need Boris Johnson and his government to act honourably. Above all else, we need a very resolute international community that is determined to protect the progress of the Good Friday Agreement and peace in Ireland.”The republican leader added: “We don’t believe that any political figure can be given anywhere to hide. We need the executive formed. “This is a matter of urgency and the idea that anybody within the British system would give cover to the DUP to prevent the formation of a government for us is unacceptable and we’re setting that out very, very clearly.”Joe Middleton24 May 2022 15:531653402385Sadiq Khan asks Met Police for ‘detailed explanation’ of Partygate decisionsSadiq Khan has written to acting Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Stephen House to seek a “detailed explanation” of the force’s decisions over individual cases in the Downing Street partygate investigation.A spokeswoman for London Mayor said: “Sadiq has today written to the acting commissioner of the Met to seek a detailed explanation of the factors which were taken into account by investigating officers when decisions were made about whether to take action in individual cases in the Downing Street ‘partygate’ investigation.“He has asked them to take steps to also reassure Londoners by making this explanation to them directly, because he is concerned that the trust and confidence of Londoners in the police is being further eroded by this lack of clarity.“The mayor has been clear he cannot and would not intervene in operational decisions, however with the investigation now complete, he has made this request in accordance with the Policing Protocol Order 2011 paragraph 23(g).”Joe Middleton24 May 2022 15:261653401711Tory MP slams his colleagues for defending ‘indefensible’ Boris JohnsonTory MP slams his colleagues for defending ‘indefensible’ Boris JohnsonJoe Middleton24 May 2022 15:151653400681SNP calls for Tory leader in Scotland to resubmit no confidence letterThe SNP has called on the leader of the Scottish Conservatives to resubmit a letter of no confidence in the Prime Minister.Douglas Ross was one of the Tory MPs who rebelled against Boris Johnson in the wake of partygate at the start of the year, calling for the PM to step down.However, Mr Ross, who is also an MSP in the Scottish Parliament, made a U-turn shortly afterwards, instead insisting there was a need for stability at the top of Government during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.The SNP’s deputy Westminster leader, Kirsten Oswald, said Mr Ross is “weak and unprincipled” in his actions over the matter.She said: “The photo evidence has destroyed Boris Johnson’s excuses and exposed his lies. It is now beyond doubt that the Prime Minister was partying during lockdown, breaking his own laws, and repeatedly lying to the public.”Douglas Ross doesn’t need any more explanations. He needs to grow a backbone and resubmit his letter of no confidence without further delay.”By constantly flip-flopping over Boris Johnson’s future, the Scottish Tory leader has blown any remaining credibility – and shown himself to be a weak and unprincipled, lame duck leader.”The Scottish Tories have run out of excuses. The longer they leave Boris Johnson in office the more damage they will do to public trust in this out-of-touch UK Government.”Tory MSPs should speak out like they overwhelmingly did in January. It is time for them to do the decent thing and speak out again.”Matt Mathers24 May 2022 14:581653399351No plans to deploy Royal Navy ships to Black SeaThe UK has “no current plans” to deploy Royal Navy warships to the Black Sea to help supplies of Ukrainian food leave Odesa.The idea of a “protective corridor” from Odesa was raised by Lithuania’s foreign minister Gabrielius Landsbergis with foreign secretary Liz Truss, The Times reported, with the potential for a “coalition of the willing” to provide ships.Globally important food supplies from Ukraine have been blocked since Vladimir Putin’s forces invaded, with the Russian navy blockading Odesa.A UK government spokesman said: “(Vladimir) Putin’s despicable blockade of Odesa is preventing food getting to people who need it.”We will continue to work intensively with international partners to find ways to resume the export of grain from Ukraine.”However, there are no current plans to deploy UK warships to the Black Sea.”Matt Mathers24 May 2022 14:351653398271No 10 staff watched in ‘disbelief’ as PM told Commons all rules were followedDowning Street insiders have claimed they looked at each other in “disbelief” as Boris Johnson told the House of Commons that are rules were followed in No 10.Speaking to BBC Panorama three individuals described chaotic mid-lockdown parties they felt were condoned by the prime minister as he was “grabbing a glass for himself”.The current and former staffers said the culture was set by Mr Johnson himself, claiming he “wanted to be liked” and for staff to be able to “let their hair down”.The damaging details follow the publication of a leaked photograph showing Mr Johnson raising a glass at a leaving drinks event for his former spin doctor at the height of England’s second lockdown.Asked about the prime minister’s early claim that all guidance and rules was followed in No 10, one staffer told the BBC: “We were watching it all live and we just sort of looked at each other in disbelief, like why? Why is he denying it?Our politics correspondent Ashley Cowburn reports: Matt Mathers24 May 2022 14:171653397551PM invited to World CupBoris Johnson has been invited to attend the 2022 World Cup in Qatar by the country’s leader.During a bilateral meeting in Downing Street, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani said it was a “special year” for his country as hosts of the global football competition.He said: “I invite the Prime Minister to come and see the World Cup. England have a very strong young team.”The prime minister replied: “Yes. Well, we have got a tough group.”The Qatari leader said: “A very interesting group. And also on top, we might have Scotland and Wales as well.”England has been drawn in the same group as Iran, the US and the winner of the play-offs between Wales and either Scotland or Ukraine.Matt Mathers24 May 2022 14:051653396524Attorney general criticises ‘risk adverse’ government legal advisersAttorney general Suella Braverman has criticised the government’s legal advisers for at times being too “risk averse” and taking a “computer says no approach”, Downing Street has said.The prime minister’s official spokesman said: “The attorney general updated Cabinet on a review of the Government Legal Department.”She said overall performance was high, however there were incidences where advice was too risk adverse or took a computer says no approach to dealing with challenging policy areas.”Following the review the Government Legal Department has received revised guidance to ensure they are more attuned to the government’s desire to tackle difficult and longstanding issues.”He said Ms Braverman did not give specific examples but said multiple departments had received advice that was “more risk averse than was needed and didn’t reflect the sort of risk appetite that ministers had”.Matt Mathers24 May 2022 13:481653395402Normal for Iran to ask Nazanin to sign confession to secure release, minister saysIt was normal for Iran to ask Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe to sign a confession as part of the conditions of her release, a minister has said.”Nothing about the cruel treatment by Iran of detainees can be described as acceptable, including at the point of release,” Foreign Office minister Amanda Milling told the Commons.”We will continue to raise human rights concerns with the Islamic Republic of Iran, including over its detention of foreign nationals.”She added: “The government of Iran must end its practise of unfairly detaining British and other foreign nationals and we will continue to work with like-minded international partners to achieve this end.”Matt Mathers24 May 2022 13:301653393324PM did not approve evacuation of Afghanistan animal charity – No 10No 10 has insisted that the prime minister did not give the green light to the evacuation of the Nowzad animal charity when asked for a plausible alternative explanation.Boris Johnson’s official spokesman said: “The prime minister had no role in authorising individual evacuations from Afghanistan during that operation, that includes Nowzad staff and animals.“At no point did the prime minister instruct staff to take any particular course of action.”
Emily Atkinson24 May 2022 12:55 More

Scotland Yard is being urged to “explain” why Boris Johnson has not been fined for a No 10 event during England’s second lockdown, as a leaked photograph showed him raising a glass to a departing colleague.Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, who said he had “assiduously stayed well away” from the Metropolitan Police’s investigation, said it was now important for the force provide “clarity” on their conclusions.It comes after photos published last night by ITV News showed the prime minister with colleagues next to a table with two bottles of champagne or cava, four bottles of wine, and half a bottle of gin.There were at least eight other people in the room at a time when people were banned from social mixing, other than to meet one person outside.Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, confirmed on LBC on Tuesday that “there were fixed penalty notices issued” for the event on 13 November 2020 as Mr Johnson’s director of communications, Lee Cain, left No 10.However, he highlighted that the prime minister was not sanctioned by police for his appearance related to the leaked photograph.Last week, the Met Police, who did issue Mr Johnson with a fixed-penalty notice for a birthday gathering in June 2020, closed its investigation, paving the way for civil servant Sue Gray’s investigation to be released.But Mr Khan said there were questions for the police, telling BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I think it’s important, when it comes to trust and confidence, when it comes to policing by consent, when it comes to questions being asked about the integrity of an investigation that the police explain why they’ve reached the conclusions they have.” More