UNDER fire Boris Johnson was on Monday forced to dodge a question whether there is a culture of "excessive drug taking" in Downing Street, instead deflecting the issue onto Keir Starmer's Labour party.

The embattled Prime Minister was pressed on the matter by an opposition MP who referred to a section of Sue Gray's report on the partygate scandal.

"Part four of Sue Gray's report says that there is a culture of excessive consumption of alcohol which is not appropriate. Is there also a culture excessive drug taking in Downing Street?" Johnson was asked.

To expressions of shock among MPs, Johnson did not respond yes or no, but replied: "Any drug taking would be excessive and perhaps he should direct that question to the Labour front bench."

READ MORE: Boris Johnson under criminal investigation as he gives statement to MPs on Sue Gray report

His response was met with cries of fury from the Labour benches.

Earlier on Monday the Metropolitan Police revealed that 12 parties connected to the Tory Government are at the centre of a criminal investigation.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer - a former director of public prosecutions - told MPs that Johnson was himself being probed by the police.

And at one point during angry exchanges in the Commons on Monday Labour MP Hilary Benn asked if the PM knew when officers were going to interview him.

"Has a date yet been set for the Prime Minister to be interviewed by the Metropolitan Police in connection with their inquiries?" Benn asked.

The PM responded: "The police are independent and they must get on with their inquiry."

The SNP MP Joanna Cherry also pressed the Prime Minister about being interviewed by the police in connection with possible criminal charges.

She said in the Commons: "If the police investigation were to result in serious criminal charges necessitating a criminal trial such as, I don’t know, misconduct in public office or conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, how would the Prime Minister feel about having to give evidence on oath?"

The PM responded: "I am not going to speculate about hypothetical questions which, frankly, I reject."

The Met earlier on Monday revealed that they had already received more than 300 photographs and 500 pieces of paper.

Commander Catherine Roper said that the material received is being ‘prioritised and fast tracked’, and the people under investigation will be contacted in a ‘matter of weeks’. 

A "bring your own booze party” attended by Johnson during the first Covid lockdown and a gathering to mark the Prime Minister’s birthday are among those being probed.

READ MORE: Sue Gray report into Boris Johnson parties is PUBLISHED: Here's what it says

In her report, Gray said that just four of the 16 events which she looked into are not now the subject of Metropolitan Police inquiries.
The parties being investigated by the Met are:

– May 20 2020: Bring Your Own Booze party:

A leaked email from the Prime Minister’s principal private secretary Martin Reynolds showed No 10 staff were invited to “bring your own booze” to an event in the Downing St garden.

Johnson has admitted he was there for 25 minutes, but said he thought it was a “work event” to thank staff for their efforts during the pandemic.

– June 18 2020: Cabinet Office leaving do:

A gathering in the 70 Whitehall building to mark the departure of a No 10 private secretary, which had not previously been disclosed.

– June 19 2020: Boris Johnson’s 56th birthday:

Downing Street has admitted staff “gathered briefly” in the Cabinet Room in what was reportedly a surprise get-together for the Prime Minister organised by his then fiancee (now wife), Carrie Symonds.

The PA news agency was told Lulu Lytle, the interior designer behind lavish renovations of the Downing Street flat, briefly attended while undertaking work in Downing Street.

However No 10 has denied a report that later the same evening, family and friends were hosted upstairs to the celebrate the occasion.

– November 13 2020: Downing Street flat do:

Symonds reportedly hosted parties in the official flat over No 11 where she and Johnson live, including one event on November 13, the night of Dominic Cummings’ acrimonious departure.

A spokesman for the PM’s wife has called the claim “total nonsense”.

– November 13 2020: Leaving party for senior aide:

According to reports at the time, Johnson gave a leaving speech for Lee Cain, his departing director of communications and a close ally of Mr Cummings.

– December 17 2020: Cabinet Office “Christmas party”:

The Cabinet Secretary Simon Case removed himself from the inquiry into Whitehall parties – to be replaced by Gray – after reports emerged of a gathering in the Cabinet Office.

It was reported the do had been organised by a private secretary in Case’s team, and that it was included in digital calendars as: “Christmas party!” and included an online quiz.

The Cabinet Office said Case played no part in the event, “but walked through the team’s office on the way to his own office”.

– December 17 2020: Leaving drinks for former Covid Taskforce head:

The former director-general of the Government’s Covid Taskforce Kate Josephs said she was “truly sorry” over leaving drinks held in the Cabinet Office.

– December 17 2020: No 10 leaving do:

A leaving do for a departing Downing Street official.

– December 18 2020: Downing Street Christmas party:

Officials and advisers reportedly made speeches, enjoyed a cheese board, drank together and exchanged Secret Santa gifts, although the Prime Minister is not thought to have attended.

Johnson’s spokeswoman Allegra Stratton resigned after video emerged of her joking about a “fictional party” at a mock press conference;

– January 14 2021: More Downing Street leaving drinks:

A gathering in No 10 on the departure of two private secretaries.

– April 16 2021; Leaving drinks on the eve of the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral:

The night before the Queen sat alone at the funeral of her husband of almost 70 years in compliance with Covid rules at the time, two leaving dos were reportedly held in No 10.

Downing Street apologised to Buckingham Palace after reported details emerged of boozy drinks parties, including one for outgoing communications director James Slack.

– Events not subject to police investigation:

– May 15 2020: Cheese and wine in the No 10 garden:

A photograph emerged of a number of groups gathered in the No 10 garden, including Johnson, Symonds, Cummings and Reynolds sitting together on the terrace.

– November 27 2020: Another a special adviser leaves:

Johnson reportedly gave a leaving speech at a gathering for Cleo Watson, another ally of Mr Cummings.

– December 10 2020: Department for Education Christmas drinks:

Then education secretary Gavin Williamson reportedly threw a party and delivered a short speech at his department’s Whitehall headquarters.

– December 15 2020: An online Christmas quiz in No 10:

The Prime Minister appeared on contestants’ screens at the quiz but insisted he broke no rules.