Boris Johnson faces another day of questions as No10 yet to receive anticipated Gray report

Sue Gray has finished writing her report, so why hasn't it been released to the public yet? ITV News Deputy Politics Editor Anushka Asthana explains

Sue Gray has yet to submit her report on lockdown parties in Downing Street to Boris Johnson, No10 has said.

The highly anticipated report into Covid-rule-breaking parties held at the top of government has been concluded, but not handed to the PM and subsequently released to the public.

Although Ms Gray's report hasn't yet been submitted, ITV News Political Editor Robert Peston said it is likely to be handed over on Wednesday, and will "be worth reading".

"The likelihood is that it will be published today, though that is not definite. The uncertainty hinges around final bureaucratic processes that need to be undergone, such as checking with the Met Police that there is nothing in it that would prejudice their criminal investigation, and running it past Whitehall human resources and government lawyers," Peston said.

The anticipation comes as the police launched their own probe into multiple events in No 10 after being passed information from the Gray inquiry.

Peston was told by a source close to Ms Gray's inquiry that her report will cover all of the parties in question, not just the ones the police are not investigating.

Peston added: "I am told categorically that the PM has committed to publish in full whatever Gray gives him, which in that sense will be the full report, not a summary, and that Downing St will not play politics with it."

Amid the anticipation, Mr Johnson told MPs on Wednesday afternoon that he would "of course" resign as prime minister if he is found to have misled Parliament over partygate.

And, according to Westminster news platform Parly, the Speaker of the House of Commons said he is willing to temporarily suspend Parliament if the Gray report is released on Wednesday.Police investigating Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick said investigations into historic allegations of Covid regulation flouting were carried out in cases of the “most serious and flagrant” breaches, and when it was considered those involved “ought to have known that what they were doing was an offence”.

Cressida Dick confirms an investigation has been launched:

The prime minister’s official spokesman signalled that Boris Johnson would be willing to speak to those at Scotland Yard investigating the alleged breaches of coronavirus rules over the past two years. However, he said Mr Johnson believes he has not broken the law. Sky News reported officials have handed over to investigators photos of parties in Downing Street which include images of Mr Johnson. The broadcaster said the pictures show people close together with wine bottles. The FT said the final report was likely to list Ms Gray’s conclusions but that it would not include a “significant amount of evidence” from interviews, such as photos or messages.

'The kind of evidence police are looking for is emails, it's phone messages, it's CCTV, it's logs of who's gone in and out of Downing Street', ITV News UK Editor Paul Brand explains

MPs wait to pick a side

On Wednesday, Liz Truss reiterated that she has "complete confidence" in the PM, adding that she supports him "100%".

"I understand that the public are concerned and angry about what has happened in No. 10 and the PM has apologised - he has said mistakes have happened," she told ITV News.

Foreign secretary Liz Truss continues to back the PM despite the parties being subject to a criminal investigation

On the previous day, the Prime Minister’s allies looked to defend their under-fire leader, with one Cabinet minister arguing ousting Mr Johnson would inevitably lead to a general election.

Some Conservative MPs have publicly called for Mr Johnson’s resignation, but others have said they will await the publication of the Gray report before trying to trigger a vote of no confidence.

In what is likely to be read as a warning to wavering rebels, Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg said the modern precedent was for a new incumbent in Downing Street to go to the polls to seek a fresh mandate.

He told BBC’s Newsnight: “It is my view that we have moved, for better or worse, to essentially a presidential system and that therefore the mandate is personal rather than entirely party, and that any Prime Minister would be very well advised to seek a fresh mandate”.

Mr Rees-Mogg, asked whether the Prime Minister should resign if there is a photograph of him at a drinks party in No 10, urged for people to wait for Ms Gray’s report to be published.

“Trying to speculate on bits of gossip and tittle-tattle around the report doesn’t really get us anywhere,” he added.

When questioned on the future of Boris Johnson, Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab said he looked "forward to the transparency and accountability" that will come with Sue Gray's report, adding that he had "full confidence" in the prime minister and the government.

But when asked whether he would take over should Boris Johnson resign, Mr Raab declined to answer the question, saying: "you're getting way ahead of yourself, we'll wait for the outcome of the inquiries Sue Gray is conducting".

Northern Ireland minister Conor Burns defended Mr Johnson’s presence at a surprise birthday bash in the Cabinet room on June 19 2020 when social events indoors were banned, saying he had been “ambushed with a cake”.

Mr Burns said it was “not a premeditated, organised party”, adding: “They came to his office with a cake, they sang Happy Birthday, he was there for 10 minutes.

“I don’t think most people looking at that at home would characterise that as a party”.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, one of those tipped to succeed Mr Johnson should he resign over the partygate affair, is due to face broadcasters on Wednesday morning when she is likely to field a flurry of questions about the Gray report and the police investigation.