Boris Johnson commissioned the internal inquiry into “Partygate” after numerous reports of social events, mostly held at a time when Britons were banned from meeting their friends and relatives indoors, sent his premiership into crisis and led to calls from all quarters that he should resign.
But the report itself was plunged into turmoil last week when the Metropolitan Police said it too would investigate the parties.
Johnson was accused of attending some of the events, including a birthday party for himself in June 2020, when people from different households were not allowed to gather indoors, and a “bring your own booze” celebration that the Prime Minister claimed to have thought was a work event.
One party was even held in Downing Street the night before Prince Philip’s funeral. Coronavirus restrictions in force at the time meant that the Queen had to sit by herself in the chapel at Windsor Castle during the service. Johnson has since apologized to the Queen for the gathering.
