Boris Johnson will not reveal answers to police partygate questionnaire, Number 10 says

Boris Johnson's problems continue, as Political Correspondent Dan Hewitt reports

Boris Johnson will not reveal the answers he writes on a police questionnaire which was given to him by officers investigating the partygate scandal, Number 10 has said.

The prime minister told broadcasters he would have "a lot more to say" on the allegations against him after police conclude their investigation into 12 potential Covid-law-breaking events on Downing Street.

Mr Johnson was among of 50 people sent questionnaires by the Metropolitan Police, as part of its criminal investigation into partygate, which was launched after Sue Gray passed the force evidence of potential criminality.

Asked if he'd completed his questionnaire, the PM told reporters in Scotland: "All that process has got to be completed before I can say anything more, but I look forward to telling you a lot more in due course."

But minutes later Number 10 told journalists that Mr Johnson's answers would not be made public.

His spokesman said the questionnaire would be answered within seven days of it being received, as required by police, after it was delivered on Friday.

Asked if the responses would be made public, the spokesman said: "No."

Scotland Yard says the questionnaires ask for an "account and explanation of the recipient's participation in an event" and have "formal legal status and must be answered truthfully".

Fifteen Tory MPs have publicly called for Mr Johnson to quit, while more are thought to have privately written to the 1922 Committee of backbench Tories calling for a no-confidence vote.

That includes the leader of the Scottish Conservatives, Douglas Ross, who Mr Johnson did not meet during a visit to Scotland on Monday.

Mr Ross, along with a majority of Tory MSPs have urged Mr Johnson to quit over partygate, joining calls from the SNP, Liberal Democrats and Labour for the PM's resignation.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said "almost every time" Mr Johnson goes to Scotland he "makes the case for the Union harder".

Speaking to broadcasters, he added: "We do have a duty to make a strong case for Union. That's what I've been doing when I go to Scotland but this Prime Minister does not help that cause."

Mr Johnson was unpopular in Scotland before the partygate controversy but approval of the PM has gone through the floor since he admitted attending potentially law-breaking events during the pandemic.

On his visit Mr Johnson will announce an agreement with the Scottish Government on the plan to create new green freeports - but SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford said it should be Mr Johnson's "farewell tour".

Mr Blackford told Sky News: "This is prime minister who is not going to meet his own Scottish Conservative leader, even the Scottish Conservatives want Boris Johnson to go.

"I hope this is his farewell tour, he is a man who is deeply unpopular up here.

"More than 75% of Scots think he should resign and I think people right up and down these islands recognise that this is a prime minister who no longer has moral authority."

Asked whether he had any authority left in Scotland, Mr Johnson said: "I'm working very hard with my colleagues in Scotland on our joint agenda of uniting and levelling up and delivering for the people of the whole UK."