The radio silence from Number 10 is deafening. 

Their line – that there was no party, and the rules have been followed – remains unchanged. That position seems unsustainable.

Sajid Javid’s planned breakfast tour of TV and radio studios to mark the first anniversary of the vaccine rollout was cancelled. At least one ministerial visit media access was also shelved.

This does not just suggest No 10 are unsure about their messenger, but about the message too.

It has allowed a vacuum that Labour and frustrated Conservative MPs are happily filling.

Until we understand the truth about the events of 18 December 2020, and exactly who was there, it is hard to know what options the government has to respond.

Boris Johnson does not have long to work that out, however, with PMQs due at midday.

‘Christmas parties’, denials and COVID rules timeline: What happened in Downing Street last year?

Boris Johnson to face questions after footage reveals No 10 staff joking about ‘Christmas party’

Footage reveals No 10 staff joking about ‘Christmas party’ in Downing St last year while under strict COVID rules

We presume his advisers will want to ensure he is distanced as far as possible from the allegations.

We will be looking to the Conservative benches to get a sense of how Tory MPs are feeling: if there are gaps left by empty seats (or just glum faces), it suggests real frustration.

First privately, and now increasingly publicly, Tory backbenchers are criticising the government’s handling of this row.

Former Tory minister Tracey Crouch has told her local paper: “I am fuming! My constituents have every right to be angry.”

Another senior backbencher has told me they believe the situation is “not recoverable… it’s both curtains for the PM and any prospect of restrictions being followed again”.

Whilst Boris Johnson’s demise seems unlikely in the short term, it is possible that the public’s compliance to future COVID restrictions could be affected.

There is increasing speculation that the PM’s ‘Plan B’ rules for England may be announced later today – although Downing Street insists no decision has been made.

This may be a convenient distraction for the government – a so-called ‘dead cat’ to thwack on the table – but it would also provoke one very obvious question: why should any of us follow the rules if those who are introducing them do not do the same?

As with Dominic Cummings’s trip to Barnard Castle, it seems some of those people imposing restrictions are ignoring them too.

Related posts:

After Help to Buy and Eat Out to Help Out comes… Help to Grow ‘We have reached the point where taxes have to go up’, warns ex-Tory leader Hague Sturgeon to be questioned about undeclared meeting with top official who may have destroyed notes NHS, Brexit, social care: What wasn’t in the chancellor’s budget Second MP defects from SNP to join Salmond’s new independence party No child will be taken out of Kabul on their own, defence sec says, following reports of women throwing babies over razor wire Leading charity calls for more government funding to support veterans’ mental health Scottish Greens close to deal to enter government for first time in UK history ‘Imminent, lethal attack’ could occur at Kabul airport in matter of hours, minister says Delighted travel firms see surge in bookings as traffic light system scrapped More than £1bn in state pensions underpaid due to ‘repeated human errors’ Union boss says Starmer must show nation he ‘has what it takes’ to be PM