THE SQUIZ

London’s Metropolitan Police has launched a criminal investigation into several parties held at UK PM Boris Johnson’s office and the British Government during the pandemic that may have breached COVID regulations. The investigation was launched after an internal inquiry led by civil servant Sue Gray passed information to authorities. Adding fuel to the fire, Gray’s report is expected to be made public this week. Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick said the parties may have crossed the threshold for a “serious and flagrant” breach of the rules, which caused great concern to the public given the “huge sacrifices” people had made during the pandemic. In regards to the Met Police probe, a spokesman said the PM didn’t believe he’d broken the law.

SO HAS JOHNSON BEEN PARTYING IT UP?

Police won’t say exactly what’s being investigated, but several alleged breaches of the COVID rules have made headlines, including:

• A BYO booze garden party at the PM’s official residence on 20 May 2020. The “socially distanced drinks” was organised by Johnson’s private secretary, with 100 staffers and officials invited. Johnson has apologised for attending, but said he “implicitly thought” it was a work event. That would have been ok under the rules. 
• A “surprise” birthday celebration thrown by his wife Carrie in the cabinet room at 10 Downing St in June 2020. The PM’s office said he was there for less than 10 mins. Johnson ally/Northern Ireland Minister Conor Burns said the gathering wasn’t a “premeditated party” but instead “he was, in a sense, ambushed with a cake.” Nigella Lawson had a bit of fun with that one…
• And on the eve of Prince Philip’s funeral in April last year, staffers held 2 parties for departing colleagues. The next day, Queen Elizabeth was photographed mourning her husband of 7 decades by herself due to COVID restrictions.

WHAT HAPPENS NOW?

Johnson could be interviewed as part of the Met probe, which would be totes awks. But on the politics, his leadership is in crisis. The PM faced a barrage of questions in the Commons overnight and said he wouldn’t resign, insisting his Government “gets the big calls right”. But colleagues have spoken out against him in Parliament, including former minister David Davis who said “in the name of God, go.” That heat will only increase with the Gray report’s release, and reports say many Tories are waiting on its findings before deciding what position to take. But for now, Johnson has the “unanimous support” of Cabinet according to senior Conservative Jacob Rees-Mogg – maybe because anyone who doesn’t support him would be obligated to resign.