Politics RECAP: Nicola Sturgeon confirmed further easing of restrictions as Scotland Yard launches investigation Boris Johnson and ‘parties’ in Downing Street
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick said on Tuesday that officers were now investigating after being passed information from the Sue Gray inquiry.
As well as a busy day at Westminster, Nicola Sturgeon delivered a Covid update to MSPs in the Scottish Parliament this afternoon.
We will have live updates from around UK politics as we get it.
Politics RECAP: Scotland Yard launches investigation Boris Johnson and ‘parties’ in Downing Street
Boris Johnson has stressed to ministers that he will 'not be deterred from getting on with the job’
Speaking at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, the Prime Minister ended the session by “emphasising there was more work to do to deliver for the public and that the Government would not be deterred from getting on with the job”, according to a No 10 spokesperson.
The Cabinet also discussed the Government’s net zero strategy, and Mr Johnson noted that next week marks two years since the UK left the European Union.
The spokesman said: “He outlined how we have used our freedom to seize many opportunities, but there is more to do and we must be bold to unleash growth and innovation, and show the British people, businesses and investors that things are changing for the better.
“The Chancellor and the Business Secretary spoke about our future approach to regulation and the Prime Minister urged the Cabinet to go further and faster in driving forward the Government’s reform agenda.”
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Jane Connors, the Metropolitan Police’s lead for Covid-19, is responsible for the investigation into alleged rule-breaking parties in Downing Street.
A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said: “The Special Enquiry Team will lead the investigations. DAC Jane Connors will oversee the investigation in her role as the Met’s lead officer for Covid.
Downing Street said the discussions between Sue Gray’s inquiry and the Met would assess what could be published from her report.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “There are discussions still ongoing between the investigations team and the police.
“I am not privy to those discussions, as I think you’ll appreciate.
“That still needs to be worked through, both in relation to what may or may not be published and the ongoing work of both the police and the (Gray) investigation.”
The Prime Minister’s spokesman said he was aware of “speculation” that the Metropolitan Police did not object to the publication of the report.
“The advice that I have had is that there are still ongoing discussions, there are still details that need to be worked through between both the police and the investigations team,” he said.
The spokesman said decisions on publication were a matter for the Cabinet Office and police and “we are not, as in No 10, seeking to block that in any way”.
He added it “certainly remains the case that we would want it to be published as soon as possible” although “I would not want to be perceived as putting undue pressure on either the investigations team or the police”.