London politics latest: Sue Gray ‘partygate’ report unlikely to come out today as Commons is adjourned

It appears unlikely that Sue Gray’s report into Downing Street parties will be published on Wednesday as the House of Commons packed up for the day.

Earlier Boris Johnson said he “can’t comment” during a row over whether he misled Parliament as Scotland Yard continues to probe “flagrant” breaches of lockdown rules.

Mr Johnson faced a showdown with Sir Keir Starmer at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday - hours before a report into the “Partygate” scandal is expected to be published.

During a grilling from the Labour leader, the prime minister agreed that the ministerial code does apply to him, but refused to comment on the Downing Street party investigation.

Meanwhile, former party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said Tory MPs will decide in the “next few days” whether Boris Johnson should remain Prime Minister. He said the series of “parties” in Downing Street as “appalling”.

Mr Duncan Smith also stressed that there should have been “serious leadership from all those relevant” to stop such a culture developing in No10 when Britain was in lockdown or under other Covid restrictions.

Rees-Mogg: PM would not need to resign if interviewed by police

19:42 , Robert Dex

Mr Rees-Mogg said Boris Johnson would not need to resign if he was interviewed by the police as people are innocent until proven guilty.

Speaking on Channel 4 News, Mr Rees-Mogg said in his experience, “very few people do lie in public life” and he added that “lying in public life is not a sensible thing to do, because it gets found out”.

Asked if Mr Johnson would need to resign if he was interviewed under caution by police, he said: “No, of course that wouldn’t be a resigning matter, because people are innocent in this country until proved guilty.

“And it is worth bearing in mind that the police themselves have said that the fact that they are investigating something doesn’t mean that any crime has necessarily been committed, that they are investigating because that is what the police do.

Rees Mogg: PM can speak on Gray report Thursday or Friday

17:42 , Robert Dex

Jacob Rees-Mogg said Boris Johnson would be able to make his statement to Parliament on the Gray report on Thursday or Friday if the Prime Minister has received it.

The Commons Leader told BBC News: “The House will sit tomorrow from 9.30am, it will be possible to have a statement tomorrow and actually Friday is a sitting Friday so the business of the House carries on and an important statement of this kind can come to the House with considerable flexibility.”

Wait for the report ‘rolls into another day’

16:59 , Michael Howie

The adjournment means Sue Gray’s report is unlikely to be published today, according to BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg who said unless something unusual happened the wait for it “rolls into another day”.

House adjourns for the day so will not be able to debate Sue Gray report until tomorrow at earliest

16:44 , Robert Dex

The House of Commons has adjourned for the day, meaning any consideration of the Sue Gray report in the chamber will have to wait until Thursday at the earliest.

The adjournment debate concluded at 4.40pm – almost three hours earlier than scheduled.

The Commons resumes at 9.30am on Thursday.

Boris ‘must have a change of heart but should continue to lead the country’, says Tory MP

16:38 , Daniel Keane

Conservative MP for Bolton North East Mark Logan said Boris Johnson had to have a “change of heart” but that he should continue to lead the country.

Mr Logan told Sky News: “There has to be a huge change. There has to be a change of heart with the Prime Minister, there has to be a change of approach and a whole change to the infrastructure around the Prime Minister.

“But I believe if he digs - and when he digs deep - is that we can make that change and we can get over what has been a difficult couple of weeks for the Government and for the country.”

Mr Logan, who met with Mr Johnson on Tuesday and spoke to him again on Wednesday, said the Prime Minister had “real contrition” and that “he does feel very sorry for what has happened, you know, for mistakes that have been made”.

UK reports over 100k daily Covid cases

16:18 , Daniel Keane

The UK reported 102,292 Covid cases and 346 deaths on Wednesday, according to the latest daily figures.

The rise in infections represents a jump of 8 per cent on Tuesday’s figure and brings the total to 16,149,319.

Meanwhile, the rise in fatalities brings the total to 154,702.

Infections are down 5 per cent in a week and 21 per cent in a fortnight - though fatalities are up by a third on last Wednesday’s figure.

DfT to launch major campaign to raise awareness of highway code changes

16:01 , Daniel Keane

The Department for Transport (DfT) will launch a major awareness campaign to alert drivers to changes to the highway code.

The DfT said its road safety offshoot Think! would launch a £500,000 communications drive in February to ensure “road-users across the country understand their responsibilities”.

The Highway Code, which contains advice and rules for people on Britain’s roads, is set to be updated from this weekend to provide more protection for vulnerable road users such as cyclists and pedestrians.

The publicity campaign will run across radio and social media channels, with further activity later in the summer.

Roads minister Baroness Vere said: “I’m proud to say we have some of the safest roads in the world, but I’m determined to make them safer still for everyone.

“These updates to the Highway Code will do just that by bringing the rules into the 21st century, encouraging people to respect and consider the needs of those around them, and ensuring all road users know the rules of the road.”

PM accused of ‘body-shaming’ over cake comment

15:34 , Daniel Keane

Boris Johnson has been accused of “body shaming” SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford, writes Michael Howie.

In an exchange during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Boris Johnson appeared to allude to Mr Blackford’s weight.

While urging Mr Johnson to quit over the partygate scandal, Mr Blackford said: “The impending National Insurance tax hike hangs like a guillotine while they eat cake.”

In response, the Prime Minister said: “I don’t know… who has been eating more cake.”

Reacting to the comments, Mr Blackford’s deputy Kirsten Oswald said: “Whether it’s his body shaming jokes, his racism, his homophobia, or his wider misconduct in public office, Mr Johnson is giving people another telling insight into his odious character.

“The Prime Minister’s frequently offensive remarks will have a damaging impact on many young people and need to be called out.”

Our full story here.

Wallace: At no point did PM direct me to evacuate Pen Farthing’s pets

15:13 , Daniel Keane

Defence secretary Ben Wallace has said “at no point” was he directed by Boris Johnon to “evacuate Pen Farthing, his workforce or his pets” from Afghanistan.

In a statement, Mr Wallace said: "I have seen the reports of emails concerning Pen Farthing and the pet evacuation.

"The evacuation of Kabul under Operation Pitting was run under my authority and delivered by the UK military through the Chief of Joint Operations.

"At no point were he or I directed by the Prime Minister to evacuate Pen Farthing, his workforce or his pets.

"As I made clear at the time, we were not going to put pets before people and as the actions showed, Pen Farthing left last and his workforce had to leave after the evacuation was concluded via other means.

"The evacuation was a Ministry of Defence led operation, supported by application processing by the Home Office and FCDO. The idea that an environment minister and his officials had any authority or responsibility in the running of the evacuation is ludicrous.

"I am however aware of false claims made throughout by Nowzad that led to considerable distress and distraction to those trying to save lives in very difficult circumstances."

Sunak denies ‘ignoring’ fraud concerns

14:56 , Daniel Keane

Rishi Sunak denied accusations that he is “ignoring” billions of pounds of taxpayers’ cash lost to fraudsters from Covid support schemes.

It comes after Treasury minister Lord Agnew dramatically quit the Government last week over the “schoolboy” handling of fraudulent covid business loans.

Mr Sunak, writing on Twitter, said: “A lot of people are concerned about fraud in our Covid support measures and they’re absolutely right to be.

“No, I’m not ignoring it, and I’m definitely not ‘writing it off’.”

He outlined investment to tackle the issue before adding: “The vast majority of people did the right thing but we are still addressing incorrect claims.

“Last year we stopped or recovered nearly £2.2 billion in potential fraud from Bounce Back Loans and £743 million of overclaimed furlough grants.”

PM says Tories are ‘not racist or Islamophobic’

14:33 , Daniel Keane

The Conservative Party is not racist or Islamophobic, Boris Johnson has insisted.

At Prime Minister’s Questions, Labour MP Rushanara Ali (Bethnal Green and Bow) claimed that “racism and Islamophobia” were part of the “character of this Government”.

Boris Johnson replied: “She talks about racism and Islamophobia. Look at this Government.”

Mr Johnson pointed to his front bench team, including Home Secretary Priti Patel and Health Secretary Sajid Javid.

He added: “If you look at the modern Conservative Party, we are the party of hope and opportunity for people irrespective of race or religion, and we don’t care what religion you affirm, all we care about is whether you are invested in ideas of aspiration and opportunity.”

MPs ‘must be given time to digest’ Gray’s report

14:13 , Daniel Keane

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said talks are ongoing with Downing Street and Jacob Rees-Mogg in a bid to give MPs “time to digest” Sue Gray’s report on party allegations.

Asked whether a formal statement will be made in the Commons after the report is published, Sir Lindsay said he has “not been given notice of the date or time of any statement”.

He told MPs: “The Prime Minister has promised to make a statement.

“What I would expect is that members will be able to see the report and I would hope time will be given for members to digest that.”

He added: “I’m more than happy to adjourn and leave it until later tonight if it arrives now, to give good time, I’m happy to work with the Leader of the House (Mr Rees-Mogg) to ensure this House is treated correctly, fairly and in the right manner.

“So I reassure him that those conversations between my office and the leader’s office, as well as Downing Street, are taking place to do the right thing by this House.”

Labour could draw on ‘parliamentary devices’ to make sure full Gray report gets published

13:51 , Daniel Keane

A Labour spokesman suggested there may be certain “parliamentary devices” the party could draw on if the Sue Gray report is not published in full.

Asked what action Labour could take, the spokesman said: “There are a range of measures. I mean, you will have seen parliamentary devices that have been used in the past to go for the publication of reports and documents.

“But as for that ... we’ll have to wait and see where we end up.”

Pressed on what kind of parliamentary devices could be used, he said: “Well, you’ve seen things like the Humble Address device used in the past and so on. But I mean, as I say, I don’t want to get ahead of where we are. Let’s wait and see.

“Hopefully the Prime Minister will stick to what he said and we won’t need to do that because the report will be published in full as promised.”

Downing Street: Met haven’t yet asked to interview PM

13:26 , Josh Salisbury

Downing Street has said it is not aware of the Metropolitan Police asking to interview Boris Johnson yet.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "Not that I'm aware of, but as a rule I'm not going to be getting into individuals who may or may not be involved."

Also asked why the Government’s position was to only intend to publish the Gray report in the format it is received, the spokesman said: "It is simply a reflection of the fact that we have not received the findings and don't know its format, that's why it remains our intention to publish it as received."

Watch: PM says he ‘can’t comment’ on police investigation into partygate

13:02 , Daniel Keane

Solution for migrant crossings ‘not at sea’, MPs told

12:53 , Daniel Keane

There is “no spare capacity” of navy vessels to tackle the number of migrant crossings in the Channel, a former patrol boat commander has warned.

Tom Sharpe told MPs the solution to curbing the crisis was “not at sea” after the Prime Minister signed off plans for the military to take over command of the operation from Border Force.

Speaking to the Commons Defence Committee on Wednesday, ex-navy commander Mr Sharpe said: “We have to acknowledge right at the start, in terms of context, about where the solution to this lies, and it’s not at sea.”

He said that filling the channel with ships “could make the problem worse” as it would make the crossing safer, and therefore more attractive”.

‘Liar not a leader’: Labour MP counters Boris’ soundbite

12:35 , Daniel Keane

Labour MP Lloyd Russell Moyle says he would rather be led “by a lawyer than a liar”.

It comes after Boris Johnson claimed Sir Keir Starmer was a “lawyer not a leader”, prompting a chorus of cheers from the Tory benches.

Mr Russell Moyle is later asked to withdraw his remark by Speaker Lindsay Hoyle, and does so.

PM ordered Pen Farthing’s animals to be prioritised for Afghan evacuation, leaked email shows

12:31 , Daniel Keane

Away from PMQs, an email has just been released by the Foreign Affairs Select Committee which could pile further misery on Boris Johnson.

The email, dated August 25, 2021, shows that the prime minister gave personal authorisation for animals from Nowzad charity - run by Pen Farthing - to be prioritised for evacuation from Afghanistan.

Mr Johnson had previously denied all claims that he prioritised Mr Farthing’s animals for evacuation.

More on this breaking story to follow.

“Cop on and go”, Blackford tells PM

12:25 , Daniel Keane

Ian Blackford, the leader of the SNP at Westminster, has called on Mr Johnson to “cop on” and resign.

He says: “At the heart of this matter we have a PM who is being investigated by the police for breaking his own laws. A man who demeans the office of prime minister.

“Every moment he stays he is dragging his party further through the dirt. The public knows it, the house knows it... When will the prime minister cop on and go?”

Mr Johnson says he has “no intention” of quitting.

PM says Starmer is ‘a lawyer, not a leader'

12:22 , Daniel Keane

Mr Johnson brands Sir Keir “a lawyer, not a leader”, causing the Tory benches to erupt.

He adds that he is “getting on with the job”.

PM appears to commit to publishing Gray report

12:19 , Daniel Keane

Sir Keir asks the PM whether he will commit to publishing the Sue Gray report in full, as Downing Street have previously indicated.

Mr Johnson responds: “ When I receive it I will do what I said.”

Sir Keir says: “The Tories have done immense damage to public trust.

“We are witnessing the shameful spectacle of the prime minister of the United Kingdom being subject to a police investigation.

“Every day that members of his cabinet refuse to speak out they become more complicit.”

PM refuses to comment on Sue Gray report

12:15 , Daniel Keane

Sir Keir asks the prime minister whether he understands the “damage” that the ongoing partygate scandal is “doing to our country”.

The PM responds: “ There is no way that I can comment on the investigation that is currently taking place.”

Mr Johnson says ministers are “focused on getting on with the job”. He claims the UK Government is “bringing the West together” to have a “tough” package of sanctions to deter President Putin from invading Ukraine.

Starmer: PM has broken ministerial code by misleading Commons

12:12 , Daniel Keane

Sir Keir Starmer asks Mr Johnson if he agrees that he should resign if he has misled parliament.

The PM declines to comment, citing the Sue Gray report.

Sir Keir adds: “On December 1 the PM told this house that all guidance was followed in No10 from that despatch box.

“On December 8, the PM told this house: ‘I have been assured there was no party’. So since he acknowledges the code applies to him, will he resign?”

Mr Johnson again refuses to answer, saying: “Sir Keir has been relentless opportunistic on Covid.

“He would have kept us in lockdown over the summer and at Christmas.”

PMQs begins

12:07 , Daniel Keane

Boris Johnson has taken to the despatch box.

He begins by marking the anniversary of Bloody Sunday, which saw 13 people killed in Derry during a protest march against internment without trial.

Mr Johnson says we must “learn from the past” and “build a shared and peaceful future”.

PMQs: What can we expect?

11:54 , Daniel Keane

Prime minister’s questions will be kicking off shortly.

Here’s a quick summary of this morning’s developments and what we can expect:

- Sue Gray’s report, while reportedly finished, has still not arrived at Boris Johnson’s desk despite rumours that it would be given to Downing Street this morning. As such, there will be no statement on the report at PMQs.

- The PM will likely face a grilling from Sir Keir Starmer over whether he will make the entire Gray report public. No10 has previously indicated it will publish the report in full, though this is ultimately a matter for Mr Johnson to decide.

- Senior cabinet ministers are continuing to back Mr Johnson. Foreign secretary Liz Truss said she “100% supports” the PM and “wants him to continue” in the role

Top Tories weigh in ahead of Gray report

11:32 , Rachael Burford

Sir Bob Neill, Conservative MP for Bromley and Chiselhurst, tells our deputy political editor David Bond: “I’m genuinely open minded about which way this is going to go but the sooner it is sorted the better.”

But he added that the Gray report needed to be published in full.

“Subject to any necessary minor redactions then of course we should have full transparency. It’s in everyone’s interests – and that would require full publication.”

Tobias Ellwood, chair of Parliament’s Defence Committee and a vocal critic of Mr Johnson’s No10 operation, told the Standard he was waiting to see the outcome of the Gray inquiry before deciding what to do next.

He said: “We’ve been in a holding pattern as we wait for the Gray report to land. There is genuine collective nervousness, knowing all MPs will now be asked to respond.

“Many would have liked to see this impasse better used to introduce reforms to the No 10 operation that’s required to earn back the nation’s trust. We want to see genuine evidence that the culture in No10 will be overhauled. We know we must embark on the colossal task of regrouping - the big question is how.”

Boris 16/1 to be ambushed by cake at PMQs

11:22 , Rachael Burford

One of Boris Johnson's closest allies has faced a wave of mockery today after stating the prime minister was "ambushed with a cake" during a lockdown "birthday bash" in Downing Street.

Senior Tories, opposition MPs and even TV cook Nigella Lawson rounded on Northern Ireland minister Conor Burns on Wednesday after he said Mr Johnson had not been involved in a “premeditated” party in No10.

Mr Johnson is set to face a grilling about No10 parties at PMQs at noon as the results of the Sue Gray inquiry loom.

Bookmaker Star Sports has Mr Johnson to be ambushed with cake during today’s Prime Minister’s Questions session at 16/1.

Meanwhile odds for the PM to resign by the end of the month have drifted from 3/1 to 6/1 overnight, according to Betfair.

The PM is 4/1 to face a vote of no confidence this month, but these could tumble if Sue Gray’s report is damning to his position.

Rishi Sunak is favourite to replace Johnson as the next Conservative leader, followed by foreign secretary Liz Truss. Jacob Rees-Mogg is the outsider at 94/1.

Two-thirds of Britons want Johnson to resign - poll

10:56 , Daniel Keane

Nearly two-thirds (62 per cent) of Britons want Boris Johnson to resign over the partygate scandal, according to a new Survation poll.

Among those who voted Conservative, the figure stood at 47 per cent - rising to 51 per cent if a police investigation concludes that Downing Street officials broke the law.

Johnson staying in power ‘is in the interests of the country’, says Tory MP

10:46 , Daniel Keane

A variety of opinions from the Conservative party on Boris Johnson’s premiership on show this morning.

Andrew Rosindell, the Tory MP for Romford, claimed it is “in the interests of the country” for the PM to remain in power.

He told Sky News’ Kay Burley: “The Prime Minister was elected two years ago two get on with the job of governing our country," he told Sky’s Kay Burley.

"I think most people want him to do things to sort the country out, get the country back on track.

"There’s massive issues we face today and yet all I hear about is people talking about certain members of staff having parties in gardens and birthday cake. Really, are we going to drag another Prime Minister out of office on something like that? Frankly, I think we need to move on from this.

"The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom has not committed some horrendous, terrible crime that deserves the entire Government to be derailed with months of leadership election... lots of upheaval, lots of uncertainty. This is not in the interests of our country.

"I’m sure there are ministers that get parking tickets and speed fines too, they break the law... Lots of people break the law in small ways, sometimes unintentionally. I just think this is not... you know, he’s not robbed a bank. This is getting out of control."

Lockdown birthday party is ‘unedifying’ for PM, says Tory MP

10:25 , Daniel Keane

Conservative MP Matt Warman agreed that recent accusations about Prime Minister Boris Johnson having a birthday party during lockdown are “unedifying”.

He told Times Radio: “I definitely think it’s unedifying. I definitely think it’s a huge distraction from all the really important work that the Government is doing and needs to get on with.

“I suppose that is one of the reasons why the PM commissioned Sue Gray’s report in the first place... because he recognises the need to draw a line and to establish some of the facts.”

Asked what he will do next if it is found that Mr Johnson misled Parliament, Mr Warman said that “prejudging both the inquiry and the Metropolitan Police work is not a helpful starting point”.

“I think what we should be doing is establishing those facts and then looking at them at that point, rather than saying ‘Well, here’s a series of ever more or less unlikely hypotheticals’,” he added.

‘Ambushed with cake should be name of my new book’, says Nigella

10:05 , Daniel Keane

Celebrity chef Nigella Lawson mocked Tory MP Conor Burns after he said the Prime Minister had been “ambushed with a cake”, suggesting he had inspired the name of her new cookbook.

She tweeted: “Ambushed by Cake: it just has to be the title of my next book!”

Mr Burns responded, tweeting: “It’s yours if you want it! Could I include my Granny’s Christmas cake recipe?”

However, Lawson did not appear impressed by Mr Burns’ light-hearted approach to the matter of Downing Street parties.

“This is just too meta. Plus, you think it’s a joke? Says it all”, read her reply.

Assistant whip ‘genuinely doesn’t recognise’ blackmail allegations

09:53 , Daniel Keane

Former assistant Government whip Matt Warman said he “genuinely doesn’t recognise” the accusations of blackmail that have been made against the Conservative party whips.

He told Times Radio: “I genuinely don’t recognise it. We all heard the ancient history of the Government whip’s office during Maastricht and decades ago when there was an immensely different culture.

“That is a world away from the whip’s office that I was in or anyone’s been in for a long, long time.

“Does it depress me that these are the sorts of stories that are bandied around? Yes, it does. Does that make them true? No, it doesn’t.”

‘Starmer would not have held lockdown parties’, says shadow minister

09:30 , Daniel Keane

Labour’s shadow minister for education has said that Sir Keir Starmer would not have allowed parties to go ahead in Downing Street during lockdown if he was prime minister.

Bridget Phillipson told Times Radio that the “culture starts from the top” and ultimately Boris Johnson bore responsibility for the alleged gatherings.

Ms Philipson told Times Radio: “There will be processes that are right to follow when you come to people’s employment and the work of civil servants, but that culture starts at the top.

“It’s from the top down. It’s the kind of culture that was allowed to continue within Downing Street.

“I can tell you if Keir Starmer had been prime minister at that point, when the whole country was under lockdown, there wouldn’t have been parties going on in the garden in Number 10, (of) that I’m sure.”

Chairman of Standards committee says Boris believes he is ‘above the law’

09:17 , Daniel Keane

The chairman of the Commons Committee on Standards accused the Prime Minister of believing he is "above the law" as he condemned the "utterly despicable" partygate saga.

Chris Bryant voiced anger about the Government’s handling of alleged lockdown breaches in Number 10 at a time when an international crisis is unfolding in Ukraine and said Boris Johnson’s moral authority has "completely eroded".

"This is why it’s utterly despicable that we’ve had to go through all of this, because you’ve got the complete erosion of the Prime Minister’s moral authority because of this pattern of behaviour," he said.

"It’s so disrespectful to the bus drivers, the nurses in ICU and everybody else that Tory MPs come on the air and say ‘Well, all these people in Downing Street, we’re working terribly hard.’ Well, I’m sorry, everybody was working terribly hard."

He added: "I was in Ukraine last week. I think people are fearful for their lives and it makes me angry that the Prime Minister thinks he’s above the law."

GMB empty chair Liz Truss

09:02 , Daniel Keane

ITV’s Good Morning Britain programme has empty chaired Liz Truss after she refused to go on the show as part of her ministerial broadcast round.

The Foreign Secretary did appear on Sky News and BBC Radio 4’s Today programme earlier this morning.

Johnson has made UK ‘an international laughing stock’, says shadow minister

08:47 , Daniel Keane

Shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson has accused Boris Johnson of making the UK an “international laughing stock” over the partygate scandal.

She criticised Tory ministers for “coming up with ridiculous excuses” over parties held in Downing Street during lockdown.

She told Sky News: “I don’t think we need Sue Gray to tell us what is absolutely clear to the British people, which is that the Prime Minister has lied and lied and lied again.

“He’s taken us all for fools, treated the British people with complete contempt, and we have this ridiculous spectacle of the Foreign Secretary and a whole litany of senior ministers paraded out every day to come up with ever more ridiculous excuses for what we all knew happened.”

Rees-Mogg’s call for election dismissed by Truss as ‘hypothetical speculation'

08:34 , Daniel Keane

Jacob Rees-Mogg’s claim that a general election could be required if Boris Johnson is ousted has been dismissed by Liz Truss as “hypothetical speculation”.

The foreign secretary would not be drawn on the cabinet minister’s assertion that an incoming prime minister would require a “fresh mandate” from the British public.

He told the BBC’s Newsnight: “It is my view that we have moved to an essentially presidential system, and that therefore the mandate is personal rather than entirely party, and that any prime minister would be very well advised to seek a fresh mandate.

"Gordon Brown didn't and that didn't work. Boris Johnson did and that did work.

"I think the days of (Harold) McMillan taking over from (Sir Anthony) Eden or even (James) Callaghan from (Harold) Wilson no longer get the mood of the constitution and our constitution has evolved. "So my view is to change leader requires a general election."

Pressed on his comments, Ms Truss told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme it was “completely hypothetical speculation”.

Russia will face ‘severe sanctions’ if it invades Ukraine, says Truss

08:19 , Daniel Keane

Foreign secretary Liz Truss has warned Vladimir Putin that Russia will face “severe sanctions” if it launches military campaign in Ukraine.

She told Sky News: “We are already supplying support to Ukraine. We’re supplying defensive weapons. We’re providing economic support.

“We are urging Russia to desist from an incursion and we’re making it very clear that if they were to do that there would be severe economic cost to Russia - severe sanctions.”

On what these sanctions could look like, she said: “They would target individuals, they would target financial institutions and they would be co-ordinated with all of our allies across Europe, the United States and others.”

Asked if the Government would support individual sanctions against President Vladimir Putin, Ms Truss said she was not “ruling anything out”.

Pictured: Dilyn in trouble on Boris’ morning run

08:03 , Daniel Keane

Boris Johnson’s dog Dilyn appeared to get into trouble on the prime minister’s morning run, squaring up to another dog in Westminster.

Downing St has not received Gray report, says Truss

07:51 , Daniel Keane

Foreign secretary Liz Truss said Downing Street had not yet received the Sue Gray report and the Government was “committed” to publishing the findings in full when it was finished, writes Rachael Burford.

It is understood that Ms Gray is investigating 16 parties, more than half of which are now being probed by Met detectives.

Ms Truss said that she had not been invited to any of the parties in No10 or Whitehall during Covid restrictions.

“It’s a matter for Sue Gray when she send that report, when she has completed her work,” she told Sky News.

“We have been absolutely clear that we will publish the findings of the report. We don’t know the content. There could be for example security issues that are problematic to publish but we will absolutely publish the findings of the report. We want to make the findings of the report public.

“The PM has appeared before Parliament he has apologised for what has happened he has admitted that mistakes were made and I 100 per cent support him and want him to continue as prime minister.”

Good morning

07:39 , Daniel Keane

Good morning and welcome to our live politics coverage.

It’s set to be another busy day in Westminster, here’s all the latest developments:

- The “partygate” scandal intensified on Tuesday after Met Police commissioner Cressida Dick announced a formal investigation into allegations of lockdown-busting parties held in Downing Street. The police investigation could take months and threatens to derail Boris Johnson’s attempt to keep the scandal out of the headlines

- Rumours swirled following Ms Dick’s announcement that the Met’s investigation could delay the release of senior civil servant Sue Gray’s report into “partygate”, commissioned by No10. Downing Street was forced into a U-turn after suggesting no details would be published amid the police probe - though the Met later insisted it there was no reason Ms Gray’s report could not be published

- The Gray report could arrive as soon as today, according to multiple reports. ITV’s Robert Peston last night claimed the mandarin had already completed her report and was poised to send it to No10, though it is now expected to arrive on Boris Johnson’s desk this afternoon or later this week