Boris Johnson DID NOT tell Cabinet about the Met Police launching an official investigation into Partygate despite being told about the probe BEFORE the meeting took place
- Boris Johnson was told before yesterday’s Cabinet meeting of the police probe
- But the Prime Minister did not explicitly mention the probe to senior ministers
- Downing Street said this was because probe was made public during meeting
Boris Johnson did not tell his Cabinet about the Metropolitan Police launching a formal investigation into Partygate despite having been made aware of the probe before he met with his senior ministers.
Number 10 said Mr Johnson did not discuss the police investigation at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting but confirmed he did already know the probe was going ahead.
The Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman said the investigation ‘was confirmed by the police while Cabinet was taking place so he didn’t reference it specifically’.
Boris Johnson did not tell his Cabinet about the Metropolitan Police launching a formal investigation into Partygate despite having been made aware of the probe before he met with his senior ministers
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick yesterday announced that officers are investigating a ‘number of events’ in Downing Street and Whitehall
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick yesterday announced that officers are investigating a ‘number of events’ in Downing Street and Whitehall.
The move came after the police were passed information from the Cabinet Office Partygate probe which is being led by senior official Sue Gray.
Dame Cressida made the announcement while Mr Johnson and his Cabinet were meeting.
Cabinet ministers are required to leave their mobile phones outside the Cabinet room during meetings which means they found out about the police investigation after the general public.
Mr Johnson has said he welcomed Scotland Yard’s investigation and hoped officers would ‘help to draw a line under matters’ after his leadership was plunged into deeper jeopardy by the development.
The PM convened his Cabinet yesterday morning but did not discuss the police probe with his ministers.
The PM’s Official Spokesman said: ‘The Prime Minister was made aware shortly before Cressida Dick announced that in her session.’
Asked then if Mr Johnson knew about the investigation before Cabinet, the spokesman replied: ‘Yes.’
The spokesman said: ‘That was confirmed by the police while Cabinet was taking place so he didn’t reference it specifically, he alluded to that at the end of Cabinet but beyond that no.
‘He made those comments about ensuring the Government is not deterred from getting on with the job, he didn’t go into detail about the Met given that Cressida Dick made her comments while Cabinet was taking place.’
Asked why Cabinet ministers were not told about the police investigation, the spokesman said: ‘From what I understand it’s important not to pre-empt a police statement on this sort of issue at any point.
‘That was the judgment the Prime Minister made. It was at that stage unclear exactly at what point the Met would make that statement and obviously the Prime Minister will continue to discuss any relevant issues with his Cabinet.’
The spokesman added: ‘I think it’s understandable that, given the sensitive nature of what the Met were due to announce, it’s right that wasn’t pre-empted in any way.’
Mr Johnson told ministers during the Cabinet meeting that he will ‘not be deterred from getting on with the job’.
The PM convened his Cabinet yesterday morning but did not discuss the police probe with his ministers
He ended the session by ’emphasising there was more work to do to deliver for the public and that the Government would not be deterred from getting on with the job’, according to a Number 10 spokesman.
The Cabinet also discussed the Government’s net zero strategy, and Mr Johnson noted that next week marks two years since the UK left the European Union.
The spokesman said: ‘He outlined how we have used our freedom to seize many opportunities, but there is more to do and we must be bold to unleash growth and innovation, and show the British people, businesses and investors that things are changing for the better.
‘The Chancellor and the Business Secretary spoke about our future approach to regulation and the Prime Minister urged the Cabinet to go further and faster in driving forward the Government’s reform agenda.’