OUTRAGE AT POLICE OVER No10 PROBE SHAMBLES

As Boris is finally set to be handed heavily censored Partygate dossier...

CRESSIDA Dick was under fire last night for a ‘farcical’ intervention in the Partygate row that risks leaving the Government in limbo for months.

In a highly controversial move, the Metropolitan Police yesterday admitted it had asked for only ‘minimal references’ to the No10 ‘parties’ at the centre of the row to be in Sue Gray’s report.

It sparked fears that the Whitehall ethics chief’s highly anticipated document will be dramatically redacted and watered down when it is finally published – possibly as soon as Monday.

One source said Met commissioner Dame cressida had ‘stuffed it up’ by announcing a criminal inquiry just days before Miss Gray’s report was due to be published.

Whitehall sources warned it could leave the Government – and the country – in limbo, with Boris Johnson unable to draw a line under the affair, ‘reset’ his Government and move on.

Last night, Downing Street was braced to receive a copy of the

report – in heavily redacted form – ‘shortly’. While there is no definite timetable, this is likely to mean no 10 getting the dossier this weekend and publishing it early next week.

But after the Met’s intervention yesterday, the report is likely to contain only scant detail of the most controversial events in the Partygate affair.

While this risks the report being branded a ‘whitewash’, there are also concerns that it will paralyse downing Street, with senior officials facing the uncertainty of potential fines and dismissal for involvement in alleged lockdown-busting parties.

‘Everyone just wants this report out so that we can address what happened and move on,’ one source said. ‘It is very difficult to do that when we have this huge thing hanging over us. It is very frustrating.’

the row erupted yesterday morning when Scotland Yard released a statement confirming it had asked for Miss Gray’s published report to make only ‘minimal references’ to the key events the force is now investigating.

that led to a furious backlash, with critics complaining that the Met was ‘usurping its position’ and preventing the public from getting closure on the affair.

Facing criticism from all sides, the Met issued a second statement late last night saying it had ‘not delayed this report and the timing of its release is a matter for the cabinet office inquiry team’. the force also insisted its inquiry would be conducted ‘promptly, fairly and proportionately’.

tory MP Sir Roger Gale described the police intervention as ‘a farce’, adding: ‘Unless there is a legal barrier to Sue Gray publishing her report, then I believe that it should be published now and in full.’

Senior legal figures also questioned the Met’s suggestion that the release of Miss Gray’s inquiry could ‘prejudice’ the criminal investigation. Ken Macdonald, a former director of public prosecutions, said the move seemed ‘disproportionate’ in the face of ‘very powerful’ public interest in the report’s swift publication.

the Met’s position was further weakened last night after the police acknowledged that the inquiry – forecast to cost as much as £1million – was looking only at potential covid breaches dealt with by fixed-penalty notices, typically of £100.

Former tory leader Sir Iain duncan Smith said: ‘I’m puzzled why the police at first said they wouldn’t look at this, and then they have now chosen to do so.

‘It’s not a criminal case at all (or) worth all the man hours that it is taking up.’ the row came as:

the police revealed that suspects would be asked to give evidence in writing, undermining claims that the PM could face an interview under caution;

the Met warned it would consider taking offenders to court if they refused to pay fines handed out by officers;

opposition politicians made extraordinary claims of a ‘stitch-up’, saying the police action appeared to be designed to help the PM avoid a leadership challenge;

downing Street risked angering tory MPs by playing down hopes of delay to the planned hike in national insurance;

Mr Johnson prepared for talks with Vladimir Putin next week in which he will warn the Russian president he faces a heavy price if he invades Ukraine;

the PM was said to have told wavering MPs he is ready to scrap plans to ban junk food ads in return for their support.

commander catherine Roper, who leads the Met’s central Specialist crime command, last night dismissed speculation that detectives were investigating more serious offences than simple breaches of covid regulations. ‘the offences under investigation, where proven, would normally result in the issuing of a fixed-penalty notice; accordingly our investigative actions will be proportionate to the nature of these offences,’ she said.

the ‘matter will be considered closed’ if offenders paid their fines, she added, but if they failed to pay, the Met will consider taking them to court.

the publication of Miss Gray’s report had been seen as a possible trigger for mutinous tory MPs to try to force a leadership challenge. Several have said privately that they plan to submit letters of no confidence in Mr Johnson unless he is cleared by the report.

the delay potentially buys more time for the PM and his allies to rebuild support within the parliamentary party. But it also

‘It should be published now and in full’

scuppers plans for a government ‘reset’ designed to reassure the country that the PM is back on track following a string of revelations that have brought his poll ratings to a record low.

Downing Street denied Labour claims that the Government is ‘paralysed’ by the affair.

But ministers say the massive distraction caused by Miss Gray’s inquiry had made it difficult to get decisions out of No10. Key meetings, including a crunch summit between the PM and Chancellor Rishi Sunak, have also been delayed.

The Met yesterday moved to clarify its position after the Mail revealed that Whitehall officials blamed the announcement of the police probe for delays to Miss Gray’s report. Scotland Yard said: ‘For the events the Met is investigating, we asked for minimal reference to be made in the Cabinet Office report. The Met did not ask for any limitations on other events in the report, or for the report to be delayed, but we have had ongoing contact with the Cabinet Office, including on the content of the report, to avoid any prejudice to our investigation.’

Tory MP Sir Christopher Chope accused the Met of ‘usurping its position by seeking to interfere in the affairs of state’. In the Commons, he said: ‘There is no reason for the Metropolitan Police to be able to require Sue Gray not to issue her report in an unamended way for the benefit of the Prime Minister who ordered that report, and for this House, which is eager to see that report.’