Steerpike

Well, it's finally here. After five months of waiting, Sue Gray has today released her report into the parties that went on in Downing Street during Covid. Her 60-page report is currently being pored over by hacks, spinners and MPs across parliament, ahead of Boris Johnson’s appearance at Prime Minister’s Questions today. But initial attention has focused on the nine pictures which Gray released as part of her inquiry (many more images of the lockdown shindigs were reportedly taken).  And the early conclusion is one of surprise at just how anodyne the gatherings seem to be, in light of the frenzied speculation about what they would depict.

Shock, horror! Another principled SNP stance has crumbled at first contact with the prospect of power. For much of the past three weeks the nationalists in Scotland have been screaming blue murder about opposition groups negotiating pacts on local authorities where the SNP are the largest party, to lock them out of office. Such deals between the Tories, Lib Dems and Labour should, perhaps, be unsurprising given that Nicola Sturgeon’s followers are still committed to the break-up of the UK. But that hasn’t stopped the First Minister’s lackeys from crying foul play every time a new deal has been announced. Take South Lanarkshire where the SNP won 27 of the council’s 64 seats but failed to win a majority, despite being the largest party.

As Westminster waits for Sue Gray to release her report, ITV has got there first. The broadcaster released images this afternoon of one of the Downing Street parties during lockdown – specifically the 13 November 2020 leaving drinks for Lee Cain, Boris Johnson's former director of communications.  Bottles of alcohol and party food are pictured on the table in front of the Prime Minister, with eight people pictured standing closely together, as well as the photographer. In several of the photographs, Boris Johnson appears to be making a speech and raising a toast, with half a glass of fizz in his hands.  On a chair sits his red box, and on the table next to him are two bottles of champagne or cava, four bottles of wine and half a bottle of gin.

Jeremy Hunt is currently enjoying something of a renaissance  – all the more interesting in light of Boris Johnson's ongoing difficulties. The former Health Secretary has been touring the TV studios recently, promoting his new book Zero: Eliminating Preventable Harm and Tragedy in the NHS. It aims to 'reduce the number of avoidable deaths to zero and in the process save money, reduce backlogs and improve working conditions.' An ambitious goal, to say the least. Allies of Hunt though have been keen to stress that such activities are absolutely, positively, NOT part of any leadership manoeuverings – even if he doesn't rule out another bid in future. Hmm.

Ah, Jacob Rees-Mogg. The Old Etonian sometimes appears to have been designed by top lab scientists at CCHQ to perfectly antagonise the Sir Humphreys of SW1. Since his appointment as the Minister for Government Efficiency in February, every announcement by the Somerset MP seems calculated to enrage the civil service trade unions, keen to retain Covid-era hybrid working practices. For the Moggstar has been on a one-man war around Whitehall, rampaging around the Cabinet Office, decrying those mandarins who stubbornly refuse to abandon working from home. As part of this crusade to get back to the offices, Rees-Mogg last month toured his department and left calling cards on the empty desks of absent civil servants.

So, the verdict is in: Boris only broke the law once during lockdown. Like it or not, today’s findings by the Metropolitan police will no doubt be received with delight by those in No. 10, relieved that the PM looks to have got away with it once again. Even if there are nerves over the imminent publication of Sue Gray's report.  As with any victory in life, there are undoubtedly winners and losers. Having applauded the force for beginning their investigation in January, there are figures in Westminster who may take a different view of the findings of the Met – with any warm sentiments for London’s finest have suddenly evaporated.

Poor David Cameron has had a tough few years since leaving No. 10. Few of his post-premiership ventures seem to be doing well. First there was the collapse of Greensill capital; then his enforced resignation from Afiniti after the firm's founder was accused of sexual assault. There's also the flatlining performance of his flagship legacy project, the National Citizen Service, and the underwhelming sales of his memoirs. So Mr S was intrigued to see that 'David Cameron' trending on Twitter in Scotland's third biggest city. Clicking through, a headline in Aberdonian organ Press and Journal flashed up: 'Local ‘champion’ David Cameron named new Lord Provost of Aberdeen.' Was the granite city the scene of an unlikely political comeback?

To Peterborough, ahead of the local Labour party's annual meeting there tonight. One of the topics of conversation will likely be who to select as Peterborough's candidate for the next general election. After all, the seat is a marginal one, with a majority of just 2,580. Four different MPs have served as the borough's representative in parliament over the past five years, including the incumbent Tory Paul Bristow. And it could be the woman who Bristow defeated at the last election – Lisa Forbes – who again stands at the next election, according to several Labour sources in Peterborough who claim that the ex-MP has her eye on a surprise comeback there.