Boris Johnson will face MPs in the House of Commons this afternoon in another tense round of Prime Minister’s Questions.
It comes as he awaits the Sue Gray inquiry report into allegations of lockdown-breaking parties in Downing Street.
Senior civil servant Ms Gray is expected to submit the findings of her inquiry into parties held in No 10 and Whitehall at some point today.
The PM has committed to publishing the report in full once it has been released to No 10.
An indication of how damaging the report could be for the government came when Scotland Yard chief Dame Cressida Dick announced a police inquiry was being carried out, based in part on evidence obtained by the Gray investigation.
Mr Johnson will endure a potentially difficult PMQs session at noon as Sir Keir Starmer continues to call for his resignation, along with a number of senior Tory MPs.
The steady stream of allegations over alleged breaches of lockdown rules have undermined the PM, and many of his critics are waiting for Ms Gray’s report before deciding whether or not to submit formal letters saying they have no confidence in his leadership.
If Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee, receives 54 letters – 15 per cent of Tory MPs – a vote on Mr Johnson’s leadership would be held.
PMQs will start at noon and we will have live updates below…
Fionnula Hainey
Should a PM who misleads Parliament resign?
Sir Keir Starmer says the ministerial code says that ministers who knowingly mislead Parliament are expected to offer their resignation.
Does the PM believe that applies to him?
Mr Johnson says ‘of course’ but I think he has invited a question about an investigation that I can’t comment on.
As a lawyer, Sir Keir knows that, he adds.
We are launching a policy tomorrow to get half a million people off welfare and into work, I hope he supports it, he adds.
Fionnula Hainey
PMQs underway
Mr Johnson starts by marking the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday.
Next, he is questioned over whether the chancellor wrote off billions of pounds worth of fraud.
It comes following reports that more than £4 billion of public cash taken by fraudsters from Covid support schemes has been written off by the Treasury.
Mr Johnson says we do not support fraudsters or those who steal from the public purse.
Everyone in this country should be proud of the effort that was made by Lord Agnew and others to secure PPE and ventilators.
Fionnula Hainey
PMQs to begin shortly
Boris Johnson will be taking PMQs in just a few minutes.
It is set to be a tense round of questions for the PM as he awaits the publication of Sue Gray’s inquiry report.
