[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by daveeb

It's like the episode of Yes Prime Minister that was too fanciful to broadcast. The met investigation could well be the get out of jail free card that Bojo was praying for.

He certainly seemed a bit perkier at PMQs last Wednesday than he had done in that Beth Rigby interview just the day before. Maybe his lawyers had said the Met investigation was highly likely which would buy him more time.

However, Peston bad thinks it's net bad for the Conservatives. I suspect it's net bad for the Conservatives but net good for Johnson. Here's an extract from Peston

My judgement, and those of senior Tories, is that it is net bad.

Because it is straightforwardly a terrible look for a prime minister to be at the centre of a police investigation.
Some will say it gives the PM more time to prepare his excuses for whenever the Met reaches its conclusions and Gray publishes, and gives him more time to lobby his anxious MPs that this is not the time to throw him out.

But the Gray report will be what it is, whenever it is published. And those close to the investigation tell me that although she will not pass explicit judgement on whether the PM has lied to public and Parliament, breaching the ministerial code - and will not do so because that is not her remit - neutral readers of what she eventually publishes would struggle to reach any other conclusion.

Apart from anything else, the Met would not be investigating if there were not prima facie evidence, established by Gray, that the rules were broken.

This is not lost on Tory MPs. It is causing them grave concern.

https://www.itv.com/news/2022-01-25/...-boris-johnson

---------- Post added at 14:13 ---------- Previous post was at 14:07 ----------

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

As Downing Street is his home, he might be able to play that card if no evidence can be found that Boris organised any of the parties.

His PPS may become the fall guy for the May party and take the big fine and the attendees may then be hit with the small fine (then watch some hell break loose).

The accusation that he lied to Parliament won't go away and nor will public revulsion for some.

Peston seems quite clear.

And those close to the [Sue Gray] investigation tell me that although she will not pass explicit judgement on whether the PM has lied to public and Parliament, breaching the ministerial code - and will not do so because that is not her remit - neutral readers of what she eventually publishes would struggle to reach any other conclusion.