Boris Johnson is about to speak to the House of Commons after the publication of Sue Gray’s report.
The report was far more critical than many were expecting and revealed that 12 gatherings attended by government officials that took place during Covid restrictions have met the threshold for police investigation.
The big question right now: Can he survive?
For what it’s worth, ahead of the Prime Minister’s address, here’s what his own lawmakers are thinking. The biggest Johnson skeptics are resigned to Johnson holding it on. They think he will kick the can down the road and grip onto power, no matter what damage it does to the governing Conservative party.
Moderates think Johnson’s short-term fate comes down to how apologetic he is. If they deem the PM not to have been sufficiently contrite, they will let him know at a meeting of backbenchers later today.
And those still supporting Johnson are very worried that their trigger-happy colleagues are ready to move against the Prime Minister without really thinking about what happens next.
Whatever happens, these next few hours could well be the best remembered of his entire time in office.
