were under investigation, but promised updates at significant points. as the news broke, one minister came to borisjohnson s defence. the leadership of borisjohnson has had has been so brilliant that he has got us through this incredibly difficult period and got all the big decisions right. an event on the prime minister s a birthday injune 2020 is the latest to come to light. downing street admitted staff gathered in the cabinet eoom how many is disputed, but one person present said up to 30 were there including the interior designer lulu lytle leading refurbishment of the number ten flat. borisjohnston, who we are told was present for around ten minutes, was given a cake. laura oakley s father died weeks earlier. the 19th ofjune would have been his 68th birthday party, and to find out boris is having fun with his pals in government, it brings everything back, we d not been able to grieve because we were only allowed ten people at the funeral, we were not allowed to have a wake, and
our home affairs correspondent daniel sandford reports. 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 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 law. and where there was little ambiguity around the absence of any reasonable defence. and what will the police look at? the starting point will be
that the prime minister was told about the police investigation shortly before this morning s cabinet meeting but he chose not to tell the cabinet about it at that time. the metropolitan police had previously said it wouldn t usually investigate past complaints about lockdown breaches. our home affairs correspondent, daniel sandford, explains why they have now begun an inquiry. for months, whitehall has been gripped by arguments around alleged parties and breaches of coronavirus 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
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. so, for only the second time in a century. so, for only the second time in a century- - - so, for only the second time in a centu . , . century. can he survive the police investigation? century. can he survive the police investigation? a century. can he survive the police investigation? a serving century. can he survive the police investigation? a serving prime - investigation? a serving prime minister will investigation? a serving prime minister will be investigation? a serving prime minister will be investigated i investigation? a serving prime| minister will be investigated for what happened under his own roof. after months and months of claims about rule breaking during a national emergency. i about rule breaking during a national emergency. i believe this will help to national emergency. i believe this will help to give national eme
of drink clanking through security. surely some officers were concerned about what they were seeing at the time? cressida dick would not comment on that today except to say that if it was relevant it would be included in the investigation. even two months into the first lockdown, police had still been actively patrolling public spaces, making sure nobody was mixing with people outside their household, so there remains a worry about double standards. there is no question, there is a huge level of public concern about this and no matter what the met had said it looks like one law for them and another for another. anyone found to have attended an illegal gathering in downing street during lockdown faces a fine. at the start of the pandemic they were £60, later rising to 100. daniel sandford, bbc news.