Boris Johnson has landed a temporary reprieve from any immediate threat to his leadership as Conservative MPs appeared to be satiated by promises to overhaul the operation of No 10 in response to the partygate saga.
The British prime minister faced angry backbenchers on Monday as he offered his mea culpa to the UK Commons.
Mr Johnson apologised to MPs after senior official Sue Gray found “failures of leadership and judgment” as gatherings were held while England was under coronavirus restrictions in 2020 and 2021.
Criticism came from across the House, including from former prime minister Theresa May who asked whether Mr Johnson either did not “read the rules”, understand them, or “didn’t think the rules applied to No 10”.
But by the time he met with parliamentarians in a rare gathering of the whole party later, a U-turn which promised to publish the eventual report in full and promises to shake up how No 10 and the cabinet office are run appeared to have calmed tensions, at least for the time being.
Police investigation
Ms Gray revealed in an “update” that of the 16 alleged gatherings she had deemed necessary to investigate, at least 12 linked to government properties in Downing Street and Whitehall were being investigated by the police.
This included at least four directly linked to Mr Johnson either because he was reported to have attended, or because they are reported to have taken place in his flat.
Three alleged gatherings not previously reported were also included in the report.
But the police investigation had prevented her from delivering any meaningful report as to not impact the inquiry.
Mr Johnson told MPs in the UK Commons: “Firstly, I want to say sorry – and I’m sorry for the things we simply didn’t get right and also sorry for the way this matter has been handled.
“It’s no use saying this or that was within the rules and it’s no use saying people were working hard. This pandemic was hard for everyone.”
He added: “I get it, and I will fix it. I want to say to the people of this country I know what the issue is.”
However, he faced a hostile response from some on his own side and the threat of a vote of no confidence has not yet been defeated.
– Former cabinet minister Andrew Mitchell told Mr Johnson he “no longer enjoys my support”.
– Tory MP Angela Richardson announced she had quit as a ministerial aide to Michael Gove, sharing her “deep disappointment” at the handling of the partygate row.
– Aaron Bell, part of the 2019 intake of Red Wall MPs, recalled abiding by coronavirus restrictions for his grandmother’s May 2020 funeral before asking: “Does the prime minister think I’m a fool?”
'Mood positive'
However, leader of the UK Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg said the “mood was positive” among Conservatives following an evening meeting on the Parliamentary estate.
He added: “So many people voted personally for Boris Johnson rather than voting for political parties.
“Politicians have to accept that our bosses are the British people, and they voted for that, they put him in office.”
Peterborough MP Paul Bristow acknowledged it had been a “difficult day” but said there was support for Mr Johnson.
Mr Bristow said he left “absolutely pumped” and added that nobody in the meeting had called for Mr Johnson to go.
The change in mood came as No 10 confirmed Mr Johnson would ask Ms Gray to produce a second report after the police investigation concludes, and committed to publishing it.
But Ms Gray’s full report and the result of the police probe could yet threaten his premiership again, and Mr Johnson’s former chief aide Dominic Cummings is due to answer questions on the report online on Tuesday which could provide more damaging details.
Polling on Monday night from Opinium said 62 per cent of UK adults wanted Mr Johnson to resign, and 64 per cent believed Tory MPs should make him go.
It comes after the Met revealed it is reviewing more than 300 images and over 500 pages of information passed to police officers by the Gray inquiry.
