Met Police denies delaying publication of Sue Gray report
Rishi Sunak is finalising plans for his leadership campaign after telling allies he believes Partygate could be “unsurvivable” for Boris Johnson, The Independent has learnt.
The chancellor is understood to be preparing a PR-led campaign, with a draft version of a campaign website already built. He and his close circle are also believed to have tried to gauge his chances of victory by speaking to former No 10 staffers and MPs about the recent scrutiny of Downing Street in the wake of revelations of lockdown parties.
Sue Gray’s report into the parties is expected to be delivered to the prime minister as soon as this weekend. The Metropolitan Police said it had received the material requested from the Cabinet Office to support their separate investigation, adding that it had not delayed publication of Ms Gray’s report.
References to parties under police investigation will be removed from the report on the Met’s orders. There are no plans to public an uncensored version.
Labour stays ahead in latest opinion polls
Labour are showing no sign of slowing down as Boris Johnson continues to come under fire over the Partygate scandal.
Sir Keir Starmer’s party is ahead by five percentage points, according to market research agency Opinium’s new findings, at 39 per cent.
Meanwhile, the Conservatives are behind on 34 per cent.
Sam Hancock29 January 2022 21:34
Opinion: Johnson hates U-turns – but there is one he is very tempted to make
The PM may have no choice but to scrap the planned National Insurance tax hike, in order to cling on to power, writes our political columnist Andrew Grice.
Boris Johnson normally hates headlines including the word “U-turn”; his aides spend many hours denying a decision is a volte-face even when it patently is. However, there is one U-turn the prime minister is very tempted to make and celebrate: halting the 1.25 per cent increase in national insurance contributions due in April.
Right-wing Tories are trying to exploit Johnson’s new mantra: to do “whatever it takes” to hang on to power. He is preparing to toss them a few more bones, such as diluting the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill and proposed restrictions on junk food advertising in shops.
But right-wingers want “operation red meat” to include a giant, juicy T-bone steak – the national insurance rise. They are making it the price of their support for Johnson when his enemies move against him –probably, whenever Sue Gray’s report on “Partygate” is finally published.
Sam Hancock29 January 2022 21:05
Watch: Corbyn expresses ‘outrage’ over no Bloody Sunday conviction
Corbyn expresses ‘outrage’ over no conviction for Bloody Sunday murders
Sam Hancock29 January 2022 20:45
Bloody Sunday: Corbyn condemns government on eve…
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