investigation into downing street is a good thing in the real world. the tories, who like to be seen as the party of law and order, are facing serious political disorder of their own. laura kuenssberg, bbc news, westminster. the metropolitan police previously said it wouldn t usually investigate past complaints about lockdown breaches. our home affairs correspondent daniel sandford explains why they have begun an inquiry now. for months, arguments around alleged parties in downing street and its garden have swept through whitehall, while london s main police force has kept quiet, saying only that it was in touch with sue gray, who s leading the cabinet office investigation. so, why is the met investigating now? well, this morning, the commisioner said three key factors would lead to them looking into covid rule breaches that happened many months ago. my three factors were and are
alex, i suppose we don t know how long it will be, this a police investigation, when we will see the results, could be weeks or months, same with the sue gray report, where does all this leave the prime minister and those tory mps who are unhappy with his leadership? that minister and those tory mps who are unhappy with his leadership?- unhappy with his leadership? that is the key question unhappy with his leadership? that is the key question at unhappy with his leadership? that is the key question at this unhappy with his leadership? that is the key question at this point - the key question at this point because of course what dame cressida dick said this morning was significant in its own right, the metropolitan police are investigating potential breaches of covid rules in the heart of downing street and across whitehall but it is significant because there were lots of conservative mps who were waiting for the sue gray report before they decided the fate of the prime minister,
regulations in downing street and its garden. the metropolitan police has said nothing except it was in touch with sue gray, who is leading the cabinet office investigation. but the head of the force cressida dick, speaking to the london assembly police and crime commissioner this morning, said while the met was generally reluctant to investigate breaches of regulations that took place months ago, three factors might change that. the three factors were and are there was evidence that those involved new or ought to have known that what they were doing was an offence, where not investigating would significantly undermine the law, and where there was little ambiguity around the absence of any reasonable defence. the met has been heavily criticised for not investigating earlier but has waited
laura kuenssberg, bbc news. so police are now investigating potential breaches of coronavirus regulations at a number of events in downing street and whitehall. our home affairs correspondent daniel sandford reports on what they will look at and considers why the police didn t act sooner. for months, arguments around alleged parties in downing street and its garden have swept through whitehall, while london s main police force has kept quiet, saying only that it was in touch with sue gray, who is leading the cabinet office investigation. so why is the met investigating now? this morning, the force s most senior officer said three factors might lead to them investigating covid rule breaches from many months ago. my three factors were and, ah, there was evidence that those my three factors were and are there was evidence that those involved knew or ought to have known that what they were doing was an offence, where not investigating would significantly undermine the legitimacy of the l
this is bbc news. i m ben brown live in downing street, the headlines: the police say they will now investigate multiple events that took place in downing street during lockdown. i can confirm that the met is now investigating a number of events that took place at downing street and whitehall in the last two years, in relation to potential breaches of covid 19 regulations. 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. sue gray s report will not be published while the met