The Prime Minister and the parties

Or as DAG says"

"What started with what was to be a brief cabinet secretary investigation to 'clear' the party allegations, became Sue Gray's investigation, a Met investigation (with FPNs) and now a possible privileges committee report.

This is now the stuff of parables and fables - a political morality story for the ages."

Johnson has run off to India for reasons unknown other than not to be in the UK media spotlight when his Government Whips try to delay or cancel the vote on referral to the Privileges Committee, as apparently, there isn't a fridge big enough for him to hide in here in the UK.

This is not a good look, and backbenchers already burned by the previous attempt to cover up scandal, the Patterson affair, are less inclined to follow the party line with the May 5th local elections. Which is why the Government has now added an ammendment that delays any such referral until after May 5th, but that means he will be referred once the investigations are completed by the Met and Sue Gray.

It is a mess. And shows that lies to cover up lies to cover up lies becomes impossible for Johnson to rememebr what lie he is now lying to cover for.

Added to the fact he acted with contrition in the House on Tuesday then slandered the Archbishop of Canterbury in the 1922 Committee Room straight afterwards.

Even hardened backbenchers walked out.