Timeline: Lockdown party allegations facing UK PM Johnson

Sue Gray, a senior civil servant who is leading the inquiry, sent an update on her report to Johnson on Monday. The government is expected to publish what it receives from Gray, which, as a result of a related police investigation, is not the full account Johnson would otherwise have received.

The timing of the publication is now up to Johnson's office.

Below is a timeline of the party reports and what Johnson has said about them:

The Mirror newspaper reports that Christmas parties took place in government offices, including Johnson's own in Downing Street, in December 2020, when such gatherings were banned.

Later media reports include a photo of Johnson hosting an online Christmas quiz for his staff, seated alongside an official draped in tinsel.

Asked by the leader of the opposition Labour Party about reports of a December 2020 Christmas party, Johnson tells parliament: "All guidance was followed completely in No. 10."

ITV News publishes a leaked video showing Johnson's staff laughing and joking during a mock news conference over how to explain a gathering in Downing Street.

In the video, Allegra Stratton, then Johnson's press secretary, says: "This fictional party was a business meeting, and it was not socially distanced."

Johnson tells parliament: "I apologise unreservedly for the offence that (the Stratton clip) has caused up and down the country, and I apologise for the impression that it gives.

"I have been repeatedly assured since these allegations emerged that there was no party and that no Covid rules were broken... if those rules were broken, there will be disciplinary action for all those involved."

Stratton resigns.

The government says Britain's top civil servant, Simon Case, will lead an inquiry into three alleged gatherings. After additional media reports, it is broadened to cover further gatherings.

Case steps down after reports that an event was held in his own office. The government says the investigation will be concluded by Gray.

The Guardian newspaper publishes a photograph of Johnson and more than a dozen others drinking wine in the Downing Street garden that it said was taken during lockdown on 15 May 2020.

"Those were people at work talking about work," Johnson said when asked about the Guardian picture.

ITV publishes an email sent by Johnson's principal private secretary Martin Reynolds to over 100 Downing Street employees on 20 May 2020, inviting them "after what has been an incredibly busy period... (to) some socially distanced drinks in the No10 garden this evening ... and bring your own booze!"

ITV said around 40 staff gathered, including Johnson and his partner Carrie, even though at the time social mixing between households was limited to two people outdoors.

Johnson tells parliament he attended a gathering on 20 May 2020, in the Downing Street garden and apologises.

"When I went into that garden... to thank groups of staff before going back into my office 25 minutes later to continue working, I believed implicitly that this was a work event," he said. His press secretary says he did not see Reynolds' email.

The Times newspaper cites Conservative lawmakers saying Johnson later told them he did not believe he had personally done anything wrong and said "we're taking hits for something we don't deserve".

British police say they will not investigate the Downing Street gatherings unless Gray's inquiry finds evidence of potential criminal offences.

Johnson's office apologises to Queen Elizabeth after it emerged staff partied late into the night in Downing Street on the eve of her husband Prince Philip's funeral in April 2021, when mixing indoors was banned. Johnson was at his country residence that day, his spokesman says.

One of those parties was a leaving event for James Slack, a former director of communications, who apologises and says the gathering "should not have happened at the time that it did".

Dominic Cummings, a former senior adviser to Johnson, says he is willing to "swear under oath" the prime minister knew about the 20 May 2020, party.

Cummings says he and at least one other adviser told Reynolds the drinks should not go ahead and that this warning was sent via email. According to Cummings, Reynolds said he would check with Johnson if he was happy for the drinks to go ahead, and he is sure Reynolds did so.

ITV News says up to 30 people attended a 19 June 2020, birthday event for Johnson at 10 Downing Street at which he was presented with a cake while his wife led staff in a chorus of 'Happy Birthday'. Johnson's office confirm staff gathered briefly after a meeting but dispute it was a party.

London's Metropolitan Police say have begun investigating "a number of events" that took place in Downing Street and other government departments after receiving information from Gray's inquiry.

The Cabinet Office says Gray's inquiry will continue