Partygate is in the House Tonight

🔍 Yesterday, UK police opened an investigation into gatherings at government offices that allegedly violated Covid lockdown rules. This marks the latest in a string of events the British press is calling “Partygate,” which could lead to the removal of Boris Johnson as prime minister.

• Johnson is facing calls to resign amid revelations that he or his staff attended a series of parties during periods when most social gatherings were banned in England due to Covid.
• He previously apologized after proof surfaced of his presence at a ‘BYOB’ party on the grounds of his official residence in May 2020 while the rest of the country was on lockdown. Johnson has been accused of misleading officials about the event.
• A pair of polls from last week show as many as two-thirds of Brits think the PM should resign. One Conservative lawmaker actually switched to the opposition Labour Party in protest.

👁 Looking ahead… A separate investigation led by senior civil servant Sue Gray into reports of lockdown parties at Downing Street is currently ongoing, with its report on the matter set to be published sometime this week (though it could be delayed).

+Speculation has entered the chat: If the Gray Report prompts 54 Conservative MPs to side against Johnson, he’ll have to face a vote of no-confidence – and if he were to lose it, he’d have to go. At least seven Conservative members of parliament have already called for a vote, while at least 20 others are said to be considering the move.

+Go deeper: Labour Perspective | Conservative Perspective