’Johnson focused on saving his own skin’

Sir Keir Starmer has accused Boris Johnson of spending all of his time "saving his own skin" after a report on lockdown parties in No 10 blamed a "failure of leadership", BBC reports. 

Johnson met with Tory MPs on Monday to reassure them about his leadership and promise a shake-up of No 10.

Labour leader Sir Keir said the PM had become distracted from key issues like the cost of living crisis.

Deputy PM Dominic Raab said Tory MPs "overwhelmingly" supported Johnson.

Metropolitan Police officers are looking into 12 events for alleged breaches of lockdown rules, including three the PM reportedly attended and one in his flat.

In her partial report, released on Monday, senior civil servant Gray said she had been "extremely limited" by the police investigation in how much she could say, so a "meaningful" report could not be released yet.

An updated report on lockdown parties in No 10 will be published by Gray once police finish their inquiries, Downing Street has said.

A number of Conservative MPs had said they are waiting for Gray's full report to decide whether to try to remove the PM from office.

Johnson addressed a meeting of the 1922 Committee of Conservative backbench MPs on Monday evening, after which cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg said the "mood was positive".

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Sir Keir said the Johnson had become distracted by trying to save his own premiership.

He said: "So many people are worried about issues such as their energy bills, which are going through the roof, and the prime minister is spending all of his time saving his own skin.

"We now know that he had a meeting planned with the chancellor last week to discuss energy bills, but that was cancelled because he was having meetings to save his own job."