Boris Johnson 'had lockdown birthday party in No 10'

The Independent's Morning Headlines email [View online]( January 25, 2022 [Morning Headlines]( 1 / [No 10 'held birthday party for Boris Johnson during lockdown']( Boris Johnson attended a birthday party thrown by his wife in Downing Street in June 2020 despite Covid lockdown rules banning all indoor socialising, according to fresh claims. The prime minister was reportedly presented with a Union Jack cake while his staff sang a chorus of Happy Birthday. The surprise gathering, which involved up to 30 people, was also attended by interior designer Lulu Lytle - who was working on the Downing Street flat at the time. 2 / [Nato sending more fighter jets and ships to eastern Europe as war fears grow]( The US and UK have begun moving personnel from their Kiev embassies 3 / [Nusrat Ghani row: Ministers accused of ignoring review into Islamophobia]( Imam appointed to define Islamophobia, Qari Asim MBE, says he has had 'no meaningful engagement' from ministers 4 / [Tory minister resigns over government's 'lamentable' record in tackling Covid fraud]( Lord Agnew attacks 'arrogance, indolence and ignorance' in government 5 / [All travel testing to be scrapped for vaccinated UK arrivals]( 'Day two' tests will be axed for double-jabbed travellers from February 11 The Big Question Will Boris Johnson resign? Boris Johnson is facing the most politically perilous week of his premiership as the intense pressure he has been subjected to over the rule-breaking Downing Street drinks parties allegedly held in the midst of England’s coronavirus lockdowns threatens to boil over. Senior civil servant Sue Gray, nicknamed “deputy God” by Whitehall insiders, is due to release her report into the affair any day now and appears to hold Mr Johnson’s future as prime minister in her hands, with disillusioned Tories said to be quietly awaiting her verdict before dispatching their letters to Sir Graham Brady’s 1922 Committee to trigger a no confidence vote. On top of that, Mr Johnson’s Cabinet stands accused of blackmailing its own backbenchers and of Islamophobia and faces anger over its policies relating to the BBC and asylum seekers - with tensions along Ukraine’s border with Russia meanwhile threatening to escalate into all-out war. Can the prime minister hope to survive it all? [Read the full story >]( Watch / [Swimmers stranded as large great white shark lurks around popular diving spot]( NUMBER OF THE DAY 40% [New research]( found that 40 per cent of young women say they have been accused of over-exaggerating symptoms or being ‘over dramatic’ about their wellbeing when seeing a doctor. QUOTE OF THE DAY "I am not driven to seek justice because I am grief-stricken or because of personal vendetta. I am purely seeking justice according to the law because the law tells me that I have the right to fair treatment, what is morally right and so I seek to understand what exactly happened to my son." – Alina Joseph. whose son Christopher Kapessa, 13, died after being allegedly pushed into a river [loses High Court fight]( over decision not to prosecute teenager accused of being responsible. Other stories you might like [Woman stabbed to death before knifeman is run over and killed by driver]( [Munich: The Edge of War is posh-washing for an elite that's still in charge today]( [Dominic Cummings claims fearful Downing Street staff are keeping evidence from Sue Gray inquiry]( Articles available exclusively to subscribers Caroline Bullock, The Independent: [Why it’s time to ditch the big restaurant chains]( If you can spare a minute we’d love your [feedback]( on our newsletters. [The Independent]( Join the conversation or follow us [Facebook]( [Twitter]( Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter. Add us to your safe list of senders. If you do not want to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Headlines_Masterlist_CDP). If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe [here](. This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our [privacy notice]( and [cookie policy](.