Dailymail
Boris Johnson is preparing a desperate fight for survival with the Sue Gray report expected tomorrow – issuing a grovelling apology but vowing to cling on.
The PM is deep in the danger zone after the first Partygate photos of him boozing with aides surfaced, and there will almost certainly be more published alongside the top mandarin’s assessment.
However, Mr Johnson is lining up a schedule of public appearances reminiscent of Tony Blair‘s ‘masochism strategy’ in the build-up to the Iraq War.
Assuming the report is delivered tomorrow morning as anticipated, he will first take PMQs at noon, then make a statement in the Commons, and hold an extended press conference – before being grilled by livid Tory backbenchers at the 1922 Committee.
In a fresh blow, Downing Street insiders have described chaotic revelry in No10 they felt was condoned by Boris Johnson as he ‘was grabbing a glass for himself’.
Speaking to the BBC’s Panorama, whistleblowers said that the offices were littered with empties. On one occasion a security officer was mocked after trying to break up rowdy behaviour. ‘I remember when a custodian tried to stop it all and he was just shaking his head in this party, being like ‘This shouldn’t be happening’,’ one insider said.
The visceral evidence of lockdown breaches is threatening to reignite a revolt that seemed to have fizzled out when the Met closed their investigation after only handing him one fine.
Leaked images showed Mr Johnson apparently toasting his outgoing communications chief Lee Cain on November 13, 2020 – a time when social gatherings were banned.
Mr Johnson was said to have made a farewell speech praising Mr Cain as ‘the only one of my staff who always answers the phone calls… day or night’. And the pair posed together wearing ‘Get Brexit Done’ boxing gloves.
Downing Street has insisted the premier returned to his grace-and-favour flat after about 15 minutes – but there are claims that he was personally responsible for pouring drinks for the toast.
The Met has confirmed the event was among those that saw fines issued – but refused to say how many or who received them. Mr Johnson was not punished over the bash, but it is thought that Mr Cain and fellow spin doctor James Slack could have been at risk of a penalty.
Fingers have been pointed at Dominic Cummings, who was ousted the same night after losing a power struggle and has since been waging a campaign for ‘regime change’ in No 10, for masterminding the leaks.
The situation has been inflamed by claims that Mr Johnson held a ‘secret’ meeting with Ms Gray in recent weeks where he urged her to abandon publication of the report.
Meanwhile, London Mayor Sadiq Khan has waded into the row over whether Scotland Yard was too lenient on the PM, calling on the force to explain its reasoning.
In a round of interviews this morning, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps gave limited backing to the PM – insisting the toast in the latest photographs ‘should not have happened’.
He told BBC Breakfast: ‘I think we, personally, find them very difficult to look at. I couldn’t see my own dad for four months during this period because he was in hospital and we thought we’d lost him at one point.
‘I think actually looking at this as well the Prime Minister will be disappointed.
‘I think he’s popped down there to raise a glass and say thank you to a long-term member of staff who is leaving. My view is it shouldn’t have happened’
Mr Shapps declined to call it a party when pressed, instead saying: ‘It’s certainly a leaving event.’
