London politics news: Sue Gray ‘sent No10 party photos featuring PM’ as police discuss report release

Sue Gray has been sent photographs of Downing Street parties which show Boris Johnson and others next to wine, according to reports.

Reports of the Downing Street party photographs first emerged on Sky News.

It comes as Downing Street has said discussions are taking place between Ms Gray’s “partygate” inquiry team and the Met over what could be published from her investigation report.

The news emerged on a day of confusion over when her report into lockdown parties in Downing Street will be released, following the Met’s announcement that detectives will probe the widely reported gatherings while Covid restrictions were in place.

Speaking to MPs on Tuesday, Boris Johnson said he “welcomes” the police investigation.

Downing Street has signalled Mr Johnson is ready to hand over his mobile phone, documents and to be interviewed if asked to by Scotland Yard.

21:30 , Robert Dex

That is all for tonight. Thank you for reading.

Party report should be published tomorrow, says Conservative MP

19:55 , Robert Dex

Conservative Andrew Bridgen said he hoped Sue Gray’s report into allegations of Downing Street lockdown parties would be published on Wednesday.

The MP for North West Leicestershire told Channel 4 News the conclusions of the civil servant’s inquiry should be published “unredacted”.

Mr Bridgen added: “I think the sooner the report comes out now the better, if it is completed, because we can’t sit under this cloud, paralysing the Prime Minister, paralysing the Government.”

Party allegations need ‘perspective’, says veteran MP

18:21 , Robert Dex

Veteran Conservative MP Crispin Blunt speculated that coronavirus rules were broken in “most homes” as he called for allegations of rule-breaking in Downing Street to be placed in the context of an administration working to control the coronavirus pandemic.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s PM programme, the Reigate MP said: “We’ve lost our sense of perspective on this.

“I think everybody needs to take a step back and try to put themselves in a situation the centre of Government was in over the course of 2020, the fact we very nearly lost our Prime Minister who was very close to being put on a ventilator and then his prospects would have been pretty thin indeed – and that would have been a first class leadership crisis for the whole country.

“And you will know how hard civil servants work at the centre of Government, as they are working every hour God sends combating a completely unprecedented public health crisis for our country.”

Mr Blunt said it was his “departure point” that the allegations levelled at Boris Johnson were not enough to topple a Prime Minister.

Trust in PM at an ‘all-time low’, says Keir Starmer

18:15 , Michael Howie

Sir Keir Starmer said trust in Boris Johnson is at an “all-time low”.

Speaking to broadcasters, the Labour leader said some members of the Cabinet need to “look themselves in the mirror” and ask why they are still supporting the Prime Minister.

He called for the Sue Gray report to be published “in full”.

Asked if he trusts the Prime Minister and No 10 to do this, Sir Keir said: “I think trust in Boris Johnson is at an all-time low.

“But we need to see the report in full and frankly, some of his Cabinet now need to look themselves in the mirror and ask themselves why they’re still supporting this Prime Minister.

“There’s a Metropolitan Police investigation into the goings on in Downing Street. It’s time that some of those Cabinet members spoke out and said we’re not tolerating this any longer.”

PM in party photos passed to Sue Gray, according to reports

18:14 , Robert Dex

Photographs showing Boris Johnson sharing wine bottles with other people in close attendance at a party have been passed to Sue Gray, Sky News has reported.

Her report into parties in Downing Street and Whitehall that may have broken COVID rules could be published as soon as tomorrow.

Boris may have to resign ‘eventually’ admits Tory peer

17:35 , Robert Dex

A Conservative former minister has suggested Boris Johnson might “eventually have to resign”, but argued there are more important things happening in the world at the moment.

Lord Robathan was heckled by opposition peers after claiming the British public is “not terribly concerned” about the party allegations.

He added in the House of Lords: “I care very much whether the Prime Minister lies, as it happens, because I think prime ministers should have integrity.

“However, I think the instability at the top that is being caused by this furore is deeply worrying when we have geopolitical events in Ukraine, and frankly I think most people would like to see the Government getting on with it.

“Perhaps, indeed, the Prime Minister will eventually have to resign but I think more important is what’s happening in Ukraine and elsewhere.”

But Conservative Lord Cormack said: “There’s great concern around the country and the graphic photograph of the Queen alone at her husband’s funeral juxtaposed with other pictures did cause a great deal of disquiet.”

Minister refuses to ‘speculate’ on when Sue Gray’s report will be published

17:28 , Robert Dex

A Cabinet Office minister has declined to say when the Sue Gray inquiry into Downing Street party allegations will be published.

Lord True, asked about the timetable for publication, told peers he was “not going to speculate on the timing of the progress” of either Ms Gray’s investigation or the Metropolitan Police’s work.

He noted those two inquiries “must be allowed to run their course”.

Lord True earlier said the “findings will be made public” from Ms Gray’s inquiry, but did not state whether or not this meant the full report would be released.

Discussions about publication of Gray report ‘ongoing'

16:30 , Daniel Keane

Downing Street said the discussions between Sue Gray’s inquiry and the Met would assess what could be published from her report.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “There are discussions still ongoing between the investigations team and the police.

“I am not privy to those discussions, as I think you’ll appreciate.

“That still needs to be worked through, both in relation to what may or may not be published and the ongoing work of both the police and the (Gray) investigation.”

Breaking: UK reports highest Covid deaths since March

16:09 , Daniel Keane

The UK reported a further 439 Covid deaths on Tuesday - the highest daily toll since last February.

A further 94,326 cases were reported, bringing the total to 16,047,716.

Sturgeon to ease WFH guidance for Scots

15:32 , Daniel Keane

Covid guidance that required Scots to work from home where possible is being ditched in favour of hybrid working, Nicola Sturgeon has announced.

The First Minister said the “significantly improved situation”, with cases of the virus falling, meant the changes could be made.

Ms Sturgeon said: “Instead of recommending home working whenever practical, the new guidance will pave the way for a phased return to the office.

“It will recommend that, from Monday January 31, employers should consider implementing hybrid working, following appropriate guidance, with workers spending some time in the office and some time at home.”

‘Critical’ that Germany plays its part if Russia is sanctioned, says ex minister

15:13 , Daniel Keane

It is “critical” that Germany plays its part if sanctions are going to be imposed on Russia, Conservative former Cabinet minister Robert Jenrick said.

The MP for Newark told the Commons: “The UK is proving to be the pre-eminent European nation in supporting and defending the Ukraine so I thank my right honourable friend for his leadership on that.

“Nobody could doubt our commitment to European security and I have been encouraged by the remarks he has already made with respect to Germany, but it is critical that the German government play a full part if we are going to deliver the unprecedented package of financial and other sanctions that he described and were set out in the call last night. How confident is he of that and what more can he do to ensure that’s delivered?”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson replied: “He is right, Germany is absolutely critical for our success in this. We have just got to keep the pressure up together.”

Cabinet left in the dark over Met Police announcement

14:54 , Daniel Keane

Boris Johnson did not warn cabinet ministers of the Metropolitan Police’s investigation into alleged Downing Stret rule-breaking, it emerged today.

Ministers, who are not permitted to take their phones into the Cabinet room, were unaware of the dramatic development when they left a meeting this morning.

The prime minister’s spokesperson said Mr Johnson judged it was best not to tell them about the “sensitive” matter because he did not want to “pre-empt a police statement”.

They added: “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.”

Ed Davey calls for summit to deal with energy ramifications of Russia invasion

14:35 , Daniel Keane

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called for a summit of G7 energy ministers to deal with the implications for energy supply and prices, while the Prime Minister said they are working with others to increase the supply of gas to Europe and the UK.

Sir Ed called for a “further action on energy, as I did during the Russian invasion of Crimea”.

He asked: “Will the Prime Minister convene a summit of G7 energy ministers, as we had back in 2014, to look at how we can improve short-term and medium-term energy security, protect consumers in this country and elsewhere against rocketing gas prices, and give ourselves a much stronger hand in the face of Putin’s aggression?”

The Prime Minister said Sir Ed’s work on renewables “put us in a stronger position to resist the Russian gas blackmail”.

Labour ‘stands resolute’ in supporting Ukraine’s independence, says Starmer

14:19 , Daniel Keane

Labour “stands resolute” in supporting Ukraine’s independence and sovereignty, Sir Keir Starmer has said.

Responding to the Prime Minister’s statement on Ukraine, the Labour leader criticised Vladimir Putin’s acts of aggression in recent years.

He said: “His Russia has annexed Crimea, supported separatist conflict in Donbass and now massed over 100,000 troops on Ukraine’s borders.

“These are repeated and unjustifiable acts of aggression so Labour stands resolute in our support of Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

“That was made clear when our shadow foreign secretary and shadow defence secretary visited Kyiv a fortnight ago.”

‘Sizeable’ NATO presence could ‘make Putin think twice’, says MP

14:01 , Daniel Keane

Conservative chairman of the Defence Committee Tobias Ellwood has said it is not too late to mobilise a “sizeable” Nato presence in Ukraine, utilising the alliance’s power to “make Putin think twice”.

Speaking in the House of Commons, the MP for Bournemouth East and former soldier said: “As the Prime Minister articulates, the West is now regrouping.

“But the penny is also dropping. The threat of sanctions will not deter a Russian aggression, and a total or even partial invasion will have severe economic and security consequences felt right across Europe and beyond.”

He added: “It is not to late to mobilise a sizeable Nato presence in Ukraine, utilising the superior hard power the alliance possesses to make Putin think twice about invading another European democracy.”

‘No one would gain’ from Russian military intervention in Ukraine, says PM

13:34 , Elly Blake

The Prime Minister warned that if the “worst happens” in Ukraine the country’s resistance “would be dogged and tenacious, and the bloodshed comparable to the first war in Chechnya or Bosnia”.

Boris Johnson told the Commons the Russian military build-up is “a spectacle that we hoped had been banished from our continent”, and warned Russia has already “attacked” Ukraine in 2015.

He said: “This time the force arrayed on Ukraine’s frontier comprises over 100,000 troops, far bigger than anything Russia has deployed against her before.

“If the worst happens, and the destructive firepower of the Russian army were to engulf Ukraine’s towns and cities I shudder to contemplate the tragedy that would ensue.

“Ukrainians have every moral and legal right to defend their country and I believe their resistance would be dogged and tenacious, and the bloodshed comparable to the first war in Chechnya or Bosnia, or any other conflict that Europe has endured since 1945.

“No one would gain from such a catastrophe.”

Boris Johnson ‘welcomes’ Met Police’s investigation

13:18 , Elly Blake

The prime minister has said he “welcomes” the Metropolitan’s Police decision to investigate potential rule-breaking at Downing Street during the pandemic.

He said: “A few weeks ago, I commissioned an independent inquiry into a series of events in Downing Street, the Cabinet Office as well as some other Whitehall departments that may have constituted potential breaches of Covid regulations.

“That process has quite properly involved sharing information continuously with the Metropolitan Police, so I welcome the Met’s decision to conduct its own investigation because I believe this will help to give the public the clarity it needs and help to draw a line under matters.

“But I want to reassure the House and the country that I and the whole Government are focused 100 per cent on dealing with the people’s priorities including the UK’s leading role in protecting freedom around the world.”

Liberal Democrat leader says government is in ‘total meltdown’

13:11 , Elly Blake

Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Ed Davey, has once again called for Boris Johnson to resign.

He said the government is “now in total meltdown” and the prime minister’s authority is “in tatters”.

“Amidst a Covid pandemic and a cost living crisis, and on the brink of war with Ukraine, we cannot go on with this chaotic government,” he said.

Johnson ‘has downgraded the office of prime minister’, says Cooper

12:58 , Daniel Keane

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper claimed Boris Johnson has “degraded the office of Prime Minister”.

Asked for her reaction to the news that police are now investigating Downing Street ‘partygate’ allegations, Ms Cooper told broadcasters: “The Government is not above the law and this shows there is sufficient evidence of wrongdoing.”

She added: “I think there is a morals question as well as a criminal question for the Prime Minister.

“Boris Johnson has now degraded the office of Prime Minister, it’s distracting everybody from the serious cost of living and other issues the country faces, and disrespected the sacrifices everyone else has made.

“That is why he must go now.”

Rayner slams Downing St’s ‘rule-breaking’ culture

12:46 , Daniel Keane

Angela Rayner has taken to the dispatch box, attacking the “rule-breaking culture” in Downing Street.

She told the Commons: “They told us Sue Gray is the answer.. now there’s a police investigation and the terms of reference for Sue Gray set by the prime minister are clear.

“They said if there is any evidence of behaviour that is potentially a criminal offence then the matter will be referred to the police.

“So it seems Mr Speaker that potential criminality has been found in Downing Street.

“What a truly damning reflection on our nation’s very highest office.”

Michael Ellis: MPs should not ‘pre-empt’ police investigation

12:40 , Daniel Keane

Paymaster general Michael Ellis is responding to Angela Rayner’s urgent question on the partygate scandal in the House of Commons:

He tells MPs: “I am not in a position to comment on the investigation.

“I recognise public anxiety and indignation that it appears that those who have set the rules may not have been following the rules.

“There is ongoing contact between the Cabinet Office and the Met Police. I would urge the House to wait for the findings of that investigation.

“The findings of the investigation will be made public.”

UK will target Russia’s financial sector in response to invasion, says minister

12:21 , Daniel Keane

The UK will target Russia’s “financial sector and individuals” with economic sanctions in response to aggression on the border with Ukraine, a minister has said.

Foreign Office minister Vicky Ford told MPs: "The UK and our allies are unwavering in our support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and for Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Any Russian military incursion into Ukraine would be a massive strategic mistake and would come at severe cost to Russia.

"We are working with our partners and developing a package of broad and high-impact sanctions targeting the Russian financial sector and individuals. We are also providing a range of support to enhance Ukraine’s defensive capability."

The minister was responding to a question from Conservative MP Lia Nici (Great Grimsby) who asked whether the UK is considering military deterrent for Russia.

Which parties could the Met investigate?

12:09 , Daniel Keane

More than a dozen parties are alleged to have taken place in Downing Street and Whitehall in breach of Covid rules, writes Rachael Burford.

Detectives refused to confirm which gatherings were being investigated, but a Downing Street wine and cheese gathering on May 15 2020, a “bring your own booze” garden party in No 10 five days later and two leaving dos on April 16 2021, the evening before Prince Philip’s funeral, could be among those probed by police.

Other potential parties which could be investigated:

2020

- June 19: Boris Johnson Birthday Party in the Downing Street Cabinet Room

– November 13: a leaving party for one of the PM’s senior aides

– November 13: a party in Mr and Mrs Johnson’s flat

– November 25: Treasury drinks

– November 27: A second No 10 staff leaving do

– December 10: Department for Education party

– December 14: Conservative HQ party featuring Tory London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey and staff

– December 15: Downing Street “virtual” quiz

– December 16: Department for Transport party

– December 17: Cabinet Office Christmas event

– December 18: Alleged Christmas party at Downing Street

PM is ‘a national distraction’, says Rayner

11:59 , Daniel Keane

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner welcomed the investigation into allegations of Covid-rule breaching parties in Downing Street.

She said: “With Boris Johnson’s Downing Street now under police investigation, how on earth can he think he can stay on as Prime Minister?

“Millions of people are struggling to pay the bills, but Boris Johnson and his Government are too wrapped up in scandal to do anything about it.

“Boris Johnson is a national distraction.

“Conservative MPs should stop propping him up and he should finally do the decent thing and resign.”

Police probe ‘will be straightforward’, says former Met chief

11:40 , Daniel Keane

A police investigation into alleged parties held during lockdown in Downing Street will be “relatively straightforward”, a former Met chief has said.

Dal Babu told Sky News: “We’re in a situation where more and more evidence has come out.

“You’d have CCTV, police officers on duty to see what was happening, right at the beginning when allegations were first made.”

‘This nightmare gets worse’, says top Tory

11:30 , Daniel Keane

Senior Tory David Davis has said the Met Police’s announcement has made the “nightmare” of partygate “even worse”.

He tweeted: “ With the police now investigating, this nightmare gets even worse.

“We have to be able to get back to dealing with real threats as quickly as possible.”

Khan welcomes Met investigation

11:22 , Daniel Keane

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has welcomed the Met Police’s probe into the alleged Downing Street parties, writes Joe Talora.

Mr Khan said: “I welcome confirmation that the Met Police is investigating a number of events that took place at Downing Street and Whitehall in the last two years in relation to potential breaches of the law.

“The public rightly expected the police to uphold the law without fear or favour, no matter who that involves, and I have been clear that members of the public must be able to expect the highest standards from everyone, including the Prime Minister and those around him.

“No one is above the law. There cannot be one rule for the Government and another for everyone else.”

Rees-Mogg: I am ‘honoured’ to serve in Johnson’s government

11:17 , Daniel Keane

One cabinet minister undeterred by the Met Police’s announcement is Jacob Rees-Mogg.

Speaking outside Downing Street, the Commons leader told reporters: “The leadership of Boris Johnson this country has had has been so brilliant - that he has got us through this incredibly difficult period and he’s got all the big decisions right.

“We have opened up faster than any other European country thanks to the Prime Minister, and I’m honoured to be under his leadership.”

Rayner granted urgent Commons question on partygate investigation

11:04 , Daniel Keane

A Government minister will be forced to respond to Commons questions about the status of the Sue Gray investigation into the partygate row following the Metropolitan Police’s announcement.

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner has been granted an urgent question on the issue at around 12.30pm.

Sue Gray will not publish partygate report while police investigate

10:48 , Daniel Keane

Sue Gray will not publish her report while the Met Police investigate, according to ITV’s Robert Peston.

He tweeted: “Sue Gray will not publish her partygate report while the Met police investigate. So it will not be published this week and probably not for many weeks.

“This is some kind of reprieve for the prime minister. She will continue her investigation though.”

Cabinet Office: Sue Gray’s investigation will continue

10:36 , Daniel Keane

The Cabinet Office has just confirmed that Sue Gray’s investigation will continue alongside the Met Police probe.

A Cabinet Office spokesman said: “The investigation being carried out by Sue Gray is continuing.

“There is in ongoing contact with the Metropolitan Police Service.”

It is not clear whether the publication of the senior official’s report will be delayed by the opening of the police investigation.

‘We police without fear or favour’, Dick insists

10:31 , Daniel Keane

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick defended her force’s approach to the allegations surrounding alleged breaches of coronavirus laws in No 10 and Whitehall.

She told the London Assembly’s Police and Crime Committee: “We police without fear or favour. We police impartially and we police in an operationally independent manner.

“I myself have... investigated more politically charged investigations, and investigations involving members of the Government, members of the civil service and other elected officials - many more than any other senior police officer, I would suggest.

“And I have always done that and I will always do that impartially.”

Investigation ‘does not mean penalties will be issued’, says Dick

10:27 , Daniel Keane

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick added: “The fact that we are now investigating does not, of course, mean that fixed penalty notices will necessarily be issued in every instance and to every person involved.

“We will not be giving a running commentary on our current investigations.”

But there will be updates at “significant points”, she added.

She said “several other events” that appeared to have taken place in Downing Street and Whitehall had also been assessed, but they were not thought to have reached the threshold for criminal investigation.

Met Police to probe Downing St parties

10:17 , Daniel Keane

The Metropolitan Police will investigate several alleged parties held in Downing Street during lockdown, Cressida Dick has confirmed.

The Met Police commissioner said the force would launch a probe into the gatherings held while all indoor mixing was banned.

She would not specify how many alleged parties would be investigated, stressing the force “would not give a running commentary” on their probe.

Ms Dick told City Hall’s Police and Crime Committee: “As a result of the information provided by the Cabinet Office inquiry team and my officers’ own assessment, I can confirm the Met is now investigating a number of Downing Street parties.”

Cressida Dick appears before London Assembly

10:09 , Daniel Keane

Met Police commissioner Cressida Dick is appearing before the London Assembly’s Police and Crime Committee.

Ms Dick said she understood the “deep public concern” over the partygate allegations.

“I absolutely understand that there is deep public concern about the allegations that have been in the media over the last few weeks,” she said.

“Many, many people have made huge sacrifices and they have suffered considerable loss during the pandemic… My officers have kept going and done their bit to help our city in the health crisis.”

Ukraine invasion ‘could damage Putin’s popularity’, warns ex-Army chief

09:59 , Daniel Keane

An invasion of Ukraine could damage Russian President Vladimir Putin’s popularity, the former head of the Army has said.

Lord Dannatt believes “the Ukrainians will fight and fight hard”, and that would mean Russian fatalities and casualties.

He told Times Radio: “He is very powerful but he does not have universal popularity. There is quite an opposition movement to him.

“If Russian television screens get filled with body bags and casualties coming back from a bloody incursion in Ukraine, that will damage his popularity and damage his standing as opposed to boosting his position - so he has got a calculation to make.”

Pictured: Cabinet ministers arrive at No10

09:39 , Daniel Keane

Health secretary Sajid Javid, culture secretary Nadine Dorries and Tory party chairman Oliver Dowden are pictured arriving at No10 Downing Street this morning.

Dorries defends Boris after former Scot Tory leader hits out at PM

09:34 , Daniel Keane

Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries has defended Boris Johnson after former Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson criticised the Prime Minister for breaking lockdown rules on his birthday.

In a tweet, Ms Davidson had said her partner “shares a birthday with the Prime Minister” but did not think to break any rules in 2020, to which Ms Dorries responded: “Ruth, you were at home with your partner.

“The PM was working in Downing St with 100s of staff in Covid war room offices. Where/what is the comparison?”

PM ‘has stuck two fingers up to the public’ over lockdown parties

09:18 , Daniel Keane

The prime minister has “stuck two fingers up to the public” over lockdown parties, the SNP’s Westminster leader Ian Blackford has said.

Repeating his calls for Mr Johnson to resign, Mr Blackford told the BBC: “This is a massive failure of leadership and somewhere along the line the Prime Minister has got to accept responsibility

“He’s stuck two fingers up at the rest of us, he’s failed to accept responsibility - he has to recognise he doesn’t have the moral authority to lead and quite simply he needs to realise that the right thing for him to do is to show some dignity, show some self respect and to resign.”

While Mr Blackford said he hoped opposition parties would be able to unite, he urged Tory MPs to submit letters of no confidence to the 1922 Committee and force a vote in his leadership.

He said: “I want to see people come together across the house, it’s important that we do that, this man has to go, Parliament has to remove him from office.”

Downing St staff ‘thought they were being kind’ by giving PM a cake

09:02 , Daniel Keane

Transport secretary Grant Shapps has defended Downing Street staff who held a birthday party for Boris Johnson in lockdown, saying they “were being kind” by presenting him with a cake.

Speaking on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, the Transport Secretary said it was “almost certainly very unwise” for Boris Johnson to have been given a birthday cake at a gathering in the Cabinet Room in June 2020.

He said: “I’m sure his staff thought that they were being kind but, you know, you’ve heard what I’ve said about it before.”

Mr Shapps added: “I repeat what I said in December and just now - I think people should stick by... should have stuck by the rules.”

‘Show of strength’ needed to stop Putin, says former PM

08:45 , Daniel Keane

Former prime minister Gordon Brown has said a “show of strength” is needed to stop Vladimir Putin as the Kremlin prepares to launch a military campaign in Ukraine.

He told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “You have to be able to stand up to him. Remember the assassinations on British soil? He was going to assassinate other people if we hadn’t stood up to him. The only thing that Putin understands is strength.

“Perhaps belatedly, the right thing to do is a show of strength from Nato and unity from Nato, and that is something that has got to be fought for and making it clear that we will not accept Russian incursions.

“I think it will be financial and economic sanctions that are going to have to be so severe that the Russian autocrats, the Russian oligarchs and Putin himself and his government is affected by them.”

Changes to Covid travel rules are ‘back to the good old days'

08:32 , Daniel Keane

Grant Shapps has said changes to Covid travel rules were “back to the good old days”.

Speaking on LBC, the transport secretary said all fully vaccinated travellers would have to do, from February 11, is fill in a passenger locater form.

However, he urged Britons to get their booster jab as other countries required it for travel.

But he said: “Increasingly countries elsewhere are requiring the booster for you to go there.

“So an important message for people listening to your show, particularly perhaps younger people who maybe think ‘Oh, I haven’t bothered with the booster, I’ve been jabbed but I haven’t bothered with the booster’, get the booster because this summer... if you want to travel, they are almost certainly going to require that booster jab.”

‘I still have confidence in PM but one is perfect’, says Shapps

08:15 , Daniel Keane

Grant Shapps said he still had confidence in Boris Johnson but stressed “no one is perfect”.

The transport secretary told BBC Breakfast that the prime minister had got Brexit done and successfully rolled out the Covid vaccine, claiming these successes were “because of his leadership”.

But he added: “No one is perfect.”

He said it was right to wait for Sue Gray’s report rather than “a sort of trial by media, drip drip”.

Elsewhere, he suggested there were “rather a lot of better things” that the media should be focussing on instead of partygate.

Mr Shapps added: “I think what was interesting about your report is it didn’t sort of highlight the other things that have been going on, the fact that we have been able to release people from working from home, from the international travel restrictions, the 37 million people who’ve had boosters, the fact we have the fastest growing economy and the many other good things that happened.”

Recap: A big week ahead in Westminster

08:05 , Daniel Keane

Good morning and welcome to the Evening Standard’s live politics coverage.

It is set to be another dramatic week in Westminster as ministers and MPs await the publication of the Sue Gray report into allegations of rule-breaking in Downing Street during lockdown.

Boris Johnson has staked the future of his premiership on the report, though fears are growing in No10 that it could be harsher and more damaging than initially feared.

A quick recap on where we are at…

- Boris Johnson has come under fresh scrutiny after allegedly attending a birthday party thrown in his honour in his Downing Street flat in June 2020, despite all social gatherings indoors being banned. No10 confirmed the event went ahead but stressed the PM only attended for ten minutes

- Culture secretary Nadine Dorries jumped to the PM’s defence last night, questioning whether having a cake in the office amounted to a “party”

- US President Joe Biden is preparing to send thousands of US troops to eastern Europe amid fears that Russia could invade Ukraine. Boris Johnson warned President Vladimir Putin that an invasion would be a “painful, violent and bloody business” for Russian troops

- The prime minister’s counter-fraud minister Lord Agnew dramatically quit yesterday, attacking the government’s “desperately inadequate” efforts to halt criminals taking advantage of taxpayers’ money used for Covid loans

Shapps ‘furious’ with anyone who broke rules

07:54 , Daniel Keane

Grant Shapps said he was “furious” with anyone who had broken Covid rules and would “not seek to defend” Boris Johnson over his birthday party held in lockdown.

The transport secretary told Sky News: “It was his (Boris Johnson’s) birthday and these are people that he worked with all the time.

“As I said, I don’t seek to defend it. This is for Sue Gray to decide on whether this was appropriate, she’ll make the recommendations.

“I think we can be pretty clear that the Prime Minister didn’t present the cake to himself. This is somebody coming in with that cake and I’ve explained to you that I’m furious with everybody who broke the rules.”

‘Everyone at lockdown party had already been working together’, says Shapps

07:46 , Daniel Keane

Grant Shapps has attempted to explain the gathering held for Boris Johnson’s birthday by claiming those present had already been working together.

ITV News reported last night that a gathering of up to 30 people was held for the prime minister’s birthday in June 2020, while indoor gatherings were banned.

Quizzed on the report, the transport secretary said: “It obviously was the Prime Minister’s birthday, he’d been given a cake earlier in the day, that’s the picture in the newspapers.

"And he was clearly given a cake by staff when he got back to the office.

"These are staff he would have been working with and was working with all day long, and will have been many a time in the same room with them working on the response to coronavirus.

"They come in, give him a cake, I understand I think it lasted for 10 minutes and that was it."