Met Police urged to reopen Partygate probe over claims evidence was 'destroyed'

11 February 2023 , 15:46

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Police have been urged to reopen the inquiry into Downing Street parties (Image: PA)

Police have been urged to reopen the Partygate probe over claims No10 staff “destroyed evidence”.

Unmesh Desai, the deputy chair of the London Assembly’s police and crime committee, has written to Met commissioner Mark Rowley asking him to take “new information into account” and revisit the inquiry.

It follows claims made in an ITV News podcast that Downing Street staff deliberately destroyed evidence of partying during the Covid pandemic, and colluded over their police questionnaires.

The podcast also included claims Boris Johnson joked a leaving do in Number 10 was “the most unsocially distanced party in the UK right now.”

A spokesperson for Johnson did not deny the comment but said the then PM had “worked constantly” to ensure the government did all it could to save lives and protect livelihoods during the pandemic.

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(PA)

“You will no doubt be aware of the new evidence that directly contradicts the former prime minister’s claim that he was not aware of any rule breaking at 10 Downing Street," Mr Desai wrote in his letter, according to the Guardian.

“There are also reports of evidence demonstrating rule breaking being destroyed by staffers.”

He added: “You will no doubt be aware of the new evidence that directly contradicts the former prime minister’s claim that he was not aware of any rule breaking at 10 Downing Street.

“There are also reports of evidence demonstrating rule breaking being destroyed by staffers.”

Boris Johnson is due to appear before Parliament’s probe into whether he misled MPs about the law-breaking parties next month.

The Metropolitan Police closed their investigation last May, after issuing 126 fines to 83 people for events on eight different dates.

Mikey Smith