Boris Johnson is under pressure to explain why he met with Sue Gray to discuss her report on the Partygate scandal, which is expected in days.
Labor warned that the “secret meeting” could further damage the credibility of the scandal investigation, while the Liberal Democrats expressed fears of “stitching”.
The prime minister is among about 30 people to whom Ms Gray, a senior civil servant, said her report would likely include their names – with a deadline of Sunday night to object.
The publication is expected on Tuesday or Wednesday, after the Sofia Police announced the completion of their investigation with a total of 126 fines imposed on 83 people.
Angela Raynor, the Labor’s deputy leader, said: “Boris Johnson urgently needs to explain why he held a secret meeting with Sue Gray to discuss her report, although he says her investigation was completely independent.
“Public confidence in the process has been exhausted and people deserve to know the truth. Sue Gray’s report must be published in full and with all the supporting evidence.
Christine Jardin, a spokeswoman for the Liberal Democrats’ finance ministry, said: This meeting needs to be explained. “
It is estimated that the meeting – about a month ago – should discuss whether up to 300 photos given to the Met probe should be included in Ms. Gray’s report.
A spokesman for number 10 said on Friday: “The prime minister has commissioned the investigation led by Sue Gray, and it has been clear all along that it must be completely independent.
“As he reiterated today, the decision of what and when to publish is entirely up to the investigative team and he will answer in parliament once it is over.
Although Downing Street calls the investigation “independent,” it is in fact an internal process carried out by a government employee.
The pressure on Mr Johnson has eased after he escaped additional fines for party number 10 in addition to the one given for celebrating his birthday in his office in June 2020.
However, Gray’s full report could still lift the lid on what her interim report calls “leadership and judgment failures” by revealing communications leading to events that break the blockage.
The prime minister then faced an investigation by the Municipal Privileges Committee to determine whether he had lied to parliament when he claimed that laws were not violated on Downing Street.
According to the Ministerial Code, any minister who deliberately misleads the House of Commons is expected to resign.
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