Met Police Sit Tight on No 10 Garden Party Probe
The Metropolitan Police say they’ll only launch an investigation into Boris Johnson’s infamous No 10 garden party if Sue Gray, the civil servant leading the Downing Street internal probe, finds evidence of a potential criminal offence.
Leaked Email Sparks Uproar
The fuss centres on a leaked email from May 20, 2020, sent by Johnson’s principal private secretary Martin Reynolds. It invited over 100 people to “socially distanced drinks” in the No 10 garden, urging staff to “make the most of the lovely weather.” The PM later admitted attending but claimed he thought it was a “work event” that technically complied with lockdown rules.
Boris Johnson: “I did not know I was at a party.”
Good Law Project Threatens Legal Action
The Good Law Project, a campaigning legal group, insists the email is proof enough for the Met to investigate. They argue that refusing to do so could be “unlawful” and have warned they’ll challenge any decision not to open a probe. In a letter to ITV News and the Mirror, they said the evidence is clear and demands “retrospective” investigation into the lockdown breach.
Political Tensions Rise Over Police Role
After ITV News broke the story, the Met confirmed “ongoing contact” with the Cabinet Office about the party. Number 10 said Sue Gray’s inquiry would pause if the police start investigating.
Home Secretary Priti Patel backs the cautious approach, telling broadcasters: “There’s an ongoing investigation, that investigation needs to conclude, and then obviously other actions could be taken post that investigation, but we can’t pre-empt things right now.”
Meanwhile, the Lib Dems slammed the Met for what they called a “shady establishment stitch-up.” The party said: “The police don’t need the Government’s permission to investigate a crime, and they mustn’t turn a blind eye to criminality just because it is committed by Boris Johnson.”
