NEW: Commissioner of Police Cressida Dick confirms that the Met is now investigating “a number of events in Downing St and Whitehall” over the last two years.
Dick says that officers have assessed a number of other events in Downing St and concluded they do not warrant investigation.
Of those that do Dick says that the fact they are being investigated does not mean FPNs will necessarily be issued.
Of those that do Dick says that the fact they are being investigated does not mean FPNs will necessarily be issued.
This is an enormous blow to Boris Johnson. This is a serving Prime Minister’s Downing St, his staff and potentially the man himself being investigated by the police. It leaves open the possibility that they conclude his Downing St broke the law at the height of lockdown.
Beyond the politics and psychology of this the other thing which will worry Number 10 most is that this Met investigation is itself being triggered by the Gray investigation, which suggests her report is going to be a very difficult one for those in Downing St.
Question now is whether we get Sue Gray this week after all. Downing St has said her investigation is continuing. Though we don’t know whether its findings will be published.
We don’t know what the political effect of that is going to be. Up to now SG has been used by No 10 to buy time. *If* we don’t hear SG’s findings this week No 10 will probably argue we should wait for Met’s investigation to conclude.
Question is what the politics of that is and how it lands with Tory MPs. Two scenarios- they conclude they have to wait for the Met. Or they conclude they can’t stand an ongoing live police investigation into Downing St and possibility yet more is thrown up before conclusion.
So looks like no SG this week. Which probably takes immediate pressure off Boris Johnson, with the potentially substantial long term cost of a police investigation *and* SG coming out at a later point.
https://twitter.com/SebastianEPayne/status/1485924002241654784
Some interesting takes on this doing the rounds. A police investigation into Downing St is never helpful to a prime minister, especially in these circumstances. Yes, it may pause ticking clock of SG (doesn’t stop it) but at cost of a police investigation into heart of govt.
There’s also significant wider opportunity costs. Depending on how Con MPs react, this will now continue to haunt govt in background, expending more political energy and Whitehall time.
Paymaster General Michael Ellis says that the Sue Gray inquiry will continue alongside Met investigation.
Though we have no time frames. Also not clear why both will run concurrently, or whether they’ll report at the same time.
Though we have no time frames. Also not clear why both will run concurrently, or whether they’ll report at the same time.
Big Qs which remain:
-Will SG report be published after all? Indication is that this might now actually happen this week- possibly minus bits Met is investigating
-Was the law broken in Downing St
and Whitehall? If so who broke it? And was Parliament misled? (see videos below).
-Will SG report be published after all? Indication is that this might now actually happen this week- possibly minus bits Met is investigating
-Was the law broken in Downing St
and Whitehall? If so who broke it? And was Parliament misled? (see videos below).
https://twitter.com/lewis_goodall/status/1485630610269949954
If SG report is published this week then Boris Johnson faces week of dealing with SG aftermath after all plus prospect of a police inquiry- a double whammy.
This now seems likely. If so arguably worst of all political worlds for No 10. We get SG after all with the potential political fallout and yet is impossible to fully draw a line and move on as there will be an outstanding and ongoing police investigation.
https://twitter.com/lewis_goodall/status/1486000177223774212
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
