Police officers who guard Downing Street have been interviewed by Sue Gray for the “ partygate ” investigation, The Telegraph can disclose. Members of the Metropolitan Police’s Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command who were on duty when a string of lockdown-breaking gatherings are alleged to have taken place have provided detailed testimonies about what they witnessed. The statements, described by one source as “ extremely damning ”, are expected to form a key part of Ms Gray’s report,

Sue Gray was appointed to conduct the investigation instead. The Met said it would refer itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct following accusations of a “ potential cover-up ”.... I know that millions of people across this country have made extraordinary sacrifices over the last 18 months.... And though I cannot anticipate the conclusions of the current inquiry, I have learned enough to know that there were things we simply did not get right....

Scotland Yard has questioned attendees at Downing Street lockdown parties under caution, a leaked document has revealed.It raises the prospect that Boris Johnson has become the first Prime Minister to be questioned under caution by the police. The document appears to be a copy of the questionnaire issued by the Metropolitan Police to those accused of attending illegal gatherings.It contains the standard Police and Criminal Evidence Act caution which states: “ You do not have to say anything, but

The senior official investigating claims of coronavirus rule-breaking parties in Downing Street must be given access to Boris Johnson if required, opposition parties said, after it was alleged he attended a drinks party during the first lockdown. Downing Street declined to deny a report in the Sunday Times that alleged the Prime Minister attended the event in the No 10 garden with wife Carrie in May 2020. The newspaper cited three sources stating Mr Johnson’s principal private secretary, Martin

Rishi Sunak has moved his family out of Downing Street amid a growing row about his family’s taxes. Removal vans were seen outside Downing Street over the weekend as belongings were taken from the flat the chancellor and his family occupy above Number 10. Sources close to Mr Sunak downplayed reports he was moving his wife Akshata Murty and two daughters out to escape the media spotlight, after pictures emerged of trucks being loaded on Saturday.... One source told the Press Association the Suna

Mr Obama said the US “ wants Britain’s influence to grow-including within Europe ”.... Ms Badenoch suggested “ one or two MPs ” are behind the Westminster rumours and they should not be allowed to “ dominate the news narrative ”.... She told BBC Breakfast: “ I'm sure if Penny was here, she would be distancing herself from those comments.” Ms Mordaunt has not publicly commented on reports about a bid to elevate her to the Tory leadership, but a source close to her rejected them as “ nonsense ”.

The Chancellor's staff have been accused of being responsible for seeking to undermine the Prime Minister by briefing against him.... Since Monday evening, the hunt has been on to find the leaker who suggested Mr Johnson was" just not working" as leader. Fingers have been pointed at Mr Sunak's chief aide, Liam Booth Smith, despite the Treasury denying any briefings came from them. The incredibly critical attack came from a" Downing Street source" speaking anonymously to the BBC after a chaotic

A photograph has emerged of an alleged Downing Street lockdown gathering that shows the Prime Minister and his wife in the garden of Number 10 enjoying cheese and wine with various members of staff. The image, published by the Guardian newspaper, appears to corroborate claims that a social gathering took place in Downing Street in May 2020, when mixing between households was limited to two people and guidance was to only meet in person for business if “ absolutely necessary ”.... On this occasi

Downing Street staff drank alcohol into the early hours at two leaving events the night before Prince Philip’s socially distanced funeral, The Telegraph can reveal.On the evening of Friday April 16 2021, Britain was in a period of public mourning.... With social distancing rules in force, she sat alone. The atmosphere in Downing Street that Friday evening, however, was quite different.... Advisers and civil servants gathered after work for two separate events to mark the departure of two colle

Downing Street has denied that Boris Johnson asked Sue Gray to drop her investigation into Partygate in a secret meeting with the senior civil servant earlier this month.An unnamed Whitehall source was today quoted in The Times as saying that the prime minister suggested to Ms Gray that she could ditch plans for publication-expected on Wednesday-asking “ Is there much point in doing it now that it’s all out there?... ” But Mr Johnson’s official spokesperson today said he “ did not recognise ” t