It is not yet clear exactly how the day will turn out, but it is very likely that we will come up with what journalists call “an event” – in the form of a brief statement from the Met saying that a certain number have been fined. The Met will not release a full list of names and, although No. 10 has said it will say if Boris Johnson is fined, it does not commit to naming other individuals. And today’s fines will be just the beginning. The Met has already contacted more than 100 people who may have broken the lockdown rules through Partygate, and earlier this month said its investigation was expanding. This process has a lot to do. However, one fact can be shocking, and confirming that people are being punished for breaking Covid’s No. 10 rules would be extremely important. When Sue Gray, the civil servant investigating the case, published her interim “update” in January, she hinted strongly that the law had been broken – but stressed that in the end it was not a crisis for her. He said: It is not up to me to judge whether the criminal law has been violated. this is a matter for law enforcement. Today, any prolonged uncertainty as to whether or not the law was violated in No. 10 is expected to be eliminated. This, obviously, will rekindle questions about why Boris Johnson has repeatedly assured MPs and the public that the rules have been followed. But whether No. 10 will answer these questions today is a different matter. If so, we could go on to tell a story of two events. But judging by what Education Minister Will Quince said when asked about the Today program, the government is delaying its response. Quince said today: I understand the public interest in the significant upheaval that has been caused. There is no doubt that the events that took place should not have happened. But I know you will find it inappropriate to comment while a police investigation is ongoing. Quince admitted that the parties “should not have taken place”. But that was tacit in Johnson’s statement to lawmakers on Jan. 31, when Sue Gray’s first “report” was published. Here’s the agenda for the day. Morning: Boris Johnson chairs the cabinet. 10.30 am: Sue Gray submits to the House of Lords Committees on Common Contexts. The Common Framework Program is a mechanism to ensure that Westminster and decentralized governments exercise the powers repatriated by the EU in a way that avoids conflict. Gray testifies why, when she does not investigate the No. 10 party, her daily job is as a second permanent secretary in the cabinet office, with responsibility for the constitution. Around 10:45 a.m.: Peter Hebblethwaite, CEO of P&O, gives information to the Scottish Parliament’s Zero Cleaning Committee. 11.30: Downing Street briefs the lobby. 11.30 am: Kwasi Kwarteng, Business Secretary, receives questions from the Commons. Afternoon: Deputies discuss Labor resolution that would force the government to publish government internal advice and minutes on the decision to extradite Evgeny Lebedev. I try to watch the comments below the line (BTL) but it is impossible to read them all. If you have a direct question, include “Andrew” in it somewhere and I’m more likely to find it. I try to answer questions and if it is of general interest, I will post the question and answer over the line (ATL), although I can not promise to do it for everyone. If you want to get my attention quickly, it’s probably best to use Twitter. I’m on @AndrewSparrow. Alternatively, you can email me at [email protected]
