Sue Gray partygate report could ‘end’ Boris Johnson’s premiership

Review's full findings are expected to be even more personally critical of the British prime minister

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  British Prime Minister Boris Johnson apologises to MPs at the House of Commons in London, having been fined after a police probe for attending a party during coronavirus lockdowns imposed by his own government. AFP

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  The prime minister was no more than 30 seconds into his speech when the first shout of 'resign' was heard from the opposition benches, followed by 'you’re an embarrassment' and 'just go'. Reuters

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  'I take this opportunity on the first available sitting day to repeat my wholehearted apology to the House,' he said, admitting that 'people had a right to expect better of their prime minister'. AFP

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  Members of the media gather on Downing Street after police in London issued 50 fines in relation to parties and gatherings held at government buildings during Covid lockdowns. Getty Images

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  The prime minister, pictured with a birthday cake baked for him by school staff at Bovingdon Primary Academy in Hemel Hempstead, said it ‘didn't occur’ to him that a gathering on June 19, 2020 to mark his 56th birthday broke coronavirus rules. AFP

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  Chancellor Rishi Sunak (L) was also fined for attending lockdown parties held in and around Downing Street. AFP

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  Mr Johnson is the first sitting prime minister to be censured for breaking the law, sparking calls from all sides of Parliament, including some in his own party, to step down. Reuters

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  A lone protester demonstrates outside No 10 Downing Street in London. EPA

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  Before the war broke out in Ukraine, Mr Johnson appeared vulnerable to the partygate controversy. He has been praised for his response to the conflict, which may offer him some protection from critics, and he visited Kyiv last weekend in what he called a show of support for the country. AFP

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  Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie applaud for key health workers outside No 10 Downing Street in May 2020. Getty Images

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  Boris Johnson makes a statement in the House of Commons in January, on Sue Gray's report regarding the alleged Downing Street parties during lockdown. Reuters

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  A journalist highlights sections of the report by civil servant Sue Gray into parties held at Downing Street. AFP

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  Mr Johnson is understood to have been present at six of at least 12 events being investigated. One occurred on the eve of Prince Philip’s funeral, at which Queen Elizabeth II had to grieve away from other mourners because of social distancing protocols. Getty Images

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson could be forced to resign after the Sue Gray review into claims of Covid-19 lockdown breaches is published, a report says.

Ms Gray, a senior civil servant, was forced to delay the publication of her investigation into parties held in Downing Street and Whitehall during England’s lockdowns after the Metropolitan Police started its own inquiry.

In an interim report published in January, the Cabinet Office official said there had been “failures of leadership and judgment” in No 10 over the partygate saga.

The Times, quoting an official it claimed was familiar with the contents of the complete report, said Ms Gray’s full findings were even more personally critical of the prime minister and could end his premiership.

“Sue’s report is excoriating," The Times quoted the official as saying. "It will make things incredibly difficult for the prime minister.

“There’s an immense amount of pressure on her — her report could be enough to end him.”

Downing Street declined to comment.

Other reports in the i newspaper say Conservative rebels are preparing to oust Mr Johnson in the event of a poor showing at the local elections next month or if further fines are issued to him.

Scotland Yard has already fined Mr Johnson, along with his wife Carrie and Chancellor Rishi Sunak, for attending his 56th birthday party held in June 2020, when Covid rules banned indoor gatherings.

Downing Street is said to be braced for Mr Johnson to receive a second fixed-penalty notice after police reportedly began issuing fines relating to a “bring your own bottle” gathering in the No 10 garden on May 20, 2020.

He reportedly attended half of the 12 gatherings being investigated by police.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks in the House of Commons in London on April 20. AP

Cabinet ministers on Sunday offered a defence of the prime minister, with Conservative Party chairman Oliver Dowden suggesting it was “quite a speculation” to predict Mr Johnson could be hit with more fines.

Mr Dowden and Brexit opportunities minister Jacob Rees-Mogg backed Mr Johnson to lead the Tories into the next general election, which is scheduled for no later than January 2025.

Mr Dowden told Sky News there was a “very strong case for the prime minister remaining in office”, despite mounting pressure from his own backbenches for him to quit.

Senior backbenchers, including former minister Steve Baker, have in recent weeks called for Mr Johnson to vacate Downing Street after his handling of the rule-breaking allegations.

According to i, the PM’s critics have begun to co-ordinate and are “holding back” to wait for the local election results or for further fines to arrive in Mr Johnson’s inbox.

The paper quoted other reports that some rebels have prepared no confidence letters to be submitted en masse to the 1922 Committee of backbench Conservative MPs should the party take a beating at the polls on May 5.

Mr Dowden has admitted that the council elections will be “challenging”.