Boris Johnson could become the first Prime Minister ever to be interviewed under police caution as the Partygate scandal continues to grow – while Sue Gray’s civil service report into alleged lockdown-breaking No 10 parties could be released as soon as today.
The civil service inquisitor is understood to have told Number 10 that she expects her findings to be released in full within ‘hours’ of them being handed to Downing Street, reported The Telegraph.
The PM’s office had not received them early this morning, but their delivery is thought to be imminent and could see the report released to the public after PMQs this afternoon.
Sky News last night claimed that she had been handed photographs of Boris Johnson next to wine bottles at an alleged lockdown breaking party, and has identified eight parties that breached the rules.
Many Tory MPs are awaiting the findings before deciding whether to submit letters of no confidence in Johnson that could topple him as Prime Minister and trigger a Tory leadership contest.
But potentially more serious for the PM is Scotland Yard’s criminal investigation into the parties which was announced yesterday.
Police sources told The Times that it was ‘inevitable’ that the PM would have to speak to detectives, making him the second sitting Prime Minister to be interviewed after Tony Blair was quizzed over the cash-for-honours scandal 15 years ago.
However Blair was interviewed as a witness – and no sitting Prime Minister has ever been interviewed under caution which requires officers to read them their rights before the questions begin. Reports at the time indicated that Blair would resign if he was interviewed under caution.