Boris Johnson is facing new questions regarding yet another gathering in Downing Street during the lockdown, which until now has not been publicly disclosed.
The new revelation, from the Sunday Times, comes despite the theoretical closure of the 'partygate' case with the release of the report by senior government official Sue Gray last week.
This time it is indeed about a gathering organised by the wife of British Prime Minister[/B] Carrie Simmonds at the Prime Minister's apartment in Downing Street on the evening of Boris Johnson's birthday[/B] on 19 June 2020.
It is the same day as the surprise evening mini party[/B] she threw for her husband in the Cabinet Room, the only one of the parties investigated for which the Metropolitan Police fined Mr and Mrs Johnson.
The Sunday Times revealed that last week an adviser working in Downing Street informed his boss, Cabinet Secretary Simon Case,that he was in possession of messages from Carrie Simmonds evidencing the alleged evening gathering.
According to the Telegraph, the Prime Minister's wife said in the messages that she was in her flat "with the gays", as she used to refer to a group of gay Downing Street councillors with whom she maintains a close friendship. Shortly afterwards it is believed that Boris Johnson himself came up to the flat.
Note that at the time there was an explicit ban on gatherings for non-work reasons.
[/P][BR][BR]This councillor had reportedly previously informed both the Metropolitan Police and Ms Gray of the existence of the messages, but without ultimately serving them on either investigation. The reason why this was not done is not clear. The councillor claims he had offered to give the messages.
Labour's deputy leader of the main opposition Angela Rainer called it "another attempted cover-up" and added that "people deserve the truth about why holding a party amid a lockdown in the Prime Minister's flat on his birthday had not been made public until now".
A Downing Street spokesman did not deny that the gathering took place, but stressed that Sue Gray "was aware of the adviser's offer (to deliver the messages) as part of her exhaustive investigation into the alleged offences". The spokesman added that "staff had ample opportunity to present evidence, including these messages, and all relevant information was provided to the Metropolitan Police for investigation."
The partygate scandal continues to have political implications for Boris Johnson. Although last week's critical Gray report did not trigger a massive wave of internal party mutiny, since its release there has been a small but steady stream of Conservative MPs publicly expressing a shake-up in their confidence in their leader.
Over 20 MPs have said they have submitted a letter of no confidence to the relevant party body, the 1922 Committee, with a view to triggering a process of possible removal of the Prime Minister. Even more MPs have publicly criticised Mr Johnson. Fifty-four letters are required for an impeachment vote.
An MP who spoke anonymously to The Times believes we are "close" to 54 letters and that he will submit his own if the party loses the Wakefield and Tiverton & Honiton constituency by-elections on June 23. "He seems to have no idea what he is doing, who he is or what we are. The internal agenda has no direction," the MP complained of Boris Johnson."
Over the weekend it was MP Anne-Marie Morris' turn to say she had submitted a letter, while former Health Secretary Steve Bryne said a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister was "inevitable".
Nearly 40-year Tory MP Sir Roger Gale, one of the first to publicly say he had submitted a letter of no confidence, told the Independent that "there is no orchestrated plan (to oust Johnson), but the challenge seems to be coming from all directions".
However, Northern Ireland Minister Brandon Lewis estimated that Boris Johnson would win an internal party vote of confidence, although he downplayed the chances of taking the situation to that point.
Source: CNA
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