Suggestions a meeting with the prime minister had been initiated by Sue Gray to discuss her long-awaited report into lockdown-breaking parties in Downing Street has been rejected by her spokesman.

It comes after Sky News revealed Boris Johnson had met the senior civil servant about the progress of her inquiry.

The BBC reported Ms Gray initiated the meeting “to clarify her intentions” for what would happen once the police investigation concluded and also touched on whether photos from the parties would be revealed to the public.

But a spokesman for the Gray inquiry has disputed this account of events and disagreed with the claim that photos had been discussed at the meeting.

However, No 10 were swift to respond with a source saying: “The PM did not request the meeting and hasn’t tried to influence the outcome in anyway.

“It’s rightly for Sue to decide and it’s all done independently.”

The briefing war will only increase the pressure on the PM to explain the meeting with Sue Gray, given the highly anticipated report has repeatedly been described as independent.

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