Rishi Sunak has said Boris Johnson has his “total support” amid the ongoing partygate scandal – but that he does not know if he will be contacted by the Met Police about the lockdown-busting events.

Earlier this week, Scotland Yard revealed officers working on the ongoing investigation into 12 alleged lockdown-busting events, which has been named Operation Hillman, would this week start asking for the accounts of more than 50 attendees.

Speaking to Sky News, the chancellor revealed he has not yet been asked by officers to fill out a questionnaire and that he does not know if he will be.

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Mr Sunak has confirmed he was at the surprise birthday celebration for the prime minister on 19 June 2020 in the Cabinet room at Number 10, but has insisted he was only there for a scheduled government meeting.

Asked whether he had received a questionnaire from the Metropolitan Police, the chancellor said: “No.”

Pressed further on whether he expected to receive a form to complete, he replied: “No… well, I don’t know.”

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He also said he did not think he had broken his government’s own coronavirus rules.

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The announcement that officers will begin to contact involved parties came just hours after a fresh photo emerged of the prime minister at a Christmas quiz in Number 10.

The Metropolitan Police is now rethinking its assessment of that event after the publication of the image of the prime minister next to an opened bottle of alcohol, crisps, a person wearing tinsel and another wearing a Santa hat.

At the time of the event, on 15 December 2020, London was under Tier 2 coronavirus restrictions.

This banned any social mixing indoors between people from different households.

Asked whether he still has confidence in Mr Johnson, Mr Sunak told Sky News: “The prime minister has my total support.”

It is believed Mr Johnson himself is likely to be among those questioned.

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PM not yet contacted by Scotland Yard

The prime minister’s official spokesman said on Thursday that Mr Johnson has not been contacted by officers investigating the partygate allegations.

“We would look to confirm contact of this sort as relates to the prime minister given the significant public interest,” he added.

Asked about the matter at a news briefing in Brussels on Thursday, the prime minister said: “That process must be completed and I am looking forward to it being completed.”

The developments come after the PM’s new Commons leader claimed “real people” do not care about the partygate row.

Mark Spencer told BBC Radio Nottingham that “normal people” were more worried about the cost of living and the NHS backlog.

But Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi contradicted this in an interview with Sky News.

Taking part in a Q&A with Kay Burley, he said: “There is no doubt that the stories around parties have cut through, people are rightly angry.”

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Met given 300 images relating to partygate

Although the 15 December event was previously not among the allegations of COVID rule-breaking in Number 10 being investigated by the Met Police, it has formed part of the “partygate” inquiry by senior civil servant Sue Gray.

She has yet to publish her full findings due to the ongoing Met Police probe into 12 other alleged lockdown-busting gatherings in Downing Street.

Ms Gray has handed more than 300 images and more than 500 pages of information to Scotland Yard.

It was reported that the prime minister read out quiz questions at the 15 December event as staff huddled by computers and conferred on questions while drinking alcohol.

When the first image of the event was published, Mr Zahawi defended Mr Johnson’s actions.

He previously told Sky News: “What do we see in that picture? We see a prime minister on a virtual quiz night for 10 to 15 minutes to thank his staff who had no choice but to come in every single day.

“Sitting in his office with the two people who are closest working with him, no alcohol on the table, not drinking, on a Zoom call or a Teams call, a virtual call, respecting the lockdown rules.”

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Throughout December 2020, official guidance stated: “Although there are exemptions for work purposes, you must not have a work Christmas lunch or party, where that is a primarily social activity and is not otherwise permitted by the rules in your tier.”

Earlier this week, the prime minister pushed forward with changes to his Number 10 operation in the wake of the scandal that has threatened his premiership.

It was announced that Samantha Jones has been appointed as Downing Street’s first chief operating officer for a six-month period.

Ms Jones, who until now had been Mr Johnson’s expert adviser on the NHS and social care, has been named as interim permanent secretary in Downing Street.

The move is in line with Mr Johnson’s ambition to create a new Office of the Prime Minister.

There has been a recent exodus of senior advisers from Number 10 amid the partygate allegations.

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