According to Boris's allies, the cabinet rat leak should be investigated because it broke the code

Boris Johnson called the allegations against him «complete nonsense.» and fired the lawyers representing him.

Boris Johnson's allies say ministers should launch an investigation into the leak to catch the 'rat rat' who said the Metropolitan Police were looking into his diary for potential violations of Covid rules.

Friends of the former prime minister called for a formal investigation into the leak after a newspaper reported that Mr Johnson had faced police investigations of gatherings in Checkers and Downing Street during the pandemic.

They named the source of the story The «ratty rat» is a reference to the «talking rat» who leaked details of a second Covid lockdown from Downing Street in November 2020.

Mr Johnson called the allegations against him «complete nonsense». and fired the lawyers representing him after his official diary was handed over to the police by civil servants.

The news that the police were looking into the document was leaked to The Times, to the ire of the former prime minister and his supporters. on the benches of the Conservatives.

They claim that the source of this story violated the rules set for civil servants and special advisers, which prohibit them from disclosing official information without the permission of ministers.

Setup.

Cabinet sources said ministers were not aware that the content had been turned over to the Met until after it happened, despite accusations from Mr Johnson's allies that supporters of Rishi Sunak were setting up a «set-up.»

A Commons An ally of Mr. Johnson said: “The rat is on the hunt. The cabinet now admits that the ministers knew. So who leaked this information to The Times last week?

«Whoever did this would be violating civil service or special adviser code.»

Another said: «If the cabinet ministers have nothing to hide, this investigation must be carried out.”

Supporters called the source of the leak «dirty» because they «turned in» Mr. Johnson about the diary.

Both Mr. Johnson and Mr. Sunak have already received fixed punitive damages from the Met for their involvement at a Partygate event in Downing Street during the pandemic.

Mr Johnson has to present evidence in Covid. an investigation chaired by cross-trial colleague Baroness Hallett in the coming days.

He is expected to receive an extension of the original deadline due to the amount of material he has been asked to prepare.

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Baroness Hallett has threatened to sue the government if it refuses to hand over WhatsApp messages and simultaneous recordings made by Mr. the materials are “definitely irrelevant”; and should not be posted publicly.

A Cabinet spokesman said: «We do not comment on leaks.»