BORIS Johnson's D-Day finally arrived today as Sue Gray's Partygate report revealed cops ARE probing a gathering inside the PM's flat.

A watered-down version of the Whitehall inquiry tore into "failures of leadership and judgment" inside No10 during lockdown.

The top civil servant, whose original findings have been heavily severely censored by the Met, also scolded the booze culture in Downing Street.

Her 12-page report concluded: "There were failures of leadership and judgment by different parts of No10 and the Cabinet Office at different times.

"Some of the events should not have been allowed to take place. Other events should not have been allowed to develop as they did."

Humbled Mr Johnson today issued a grovelling apology in the Commons and vowed to change the way he works.

He told MPs: "Firstly, I want to say sorry – and I'm sorry for the things we simply didn't get right and also sorry for the way this matter has been handled.

"It's no use saying this or that was within the rules and it's no use saying people were working hard. This pandemic was hard for everyone."

In major developments:

• Ms Gray revealed the Met were probing 12 out of the 16 gatherings
• She revealed the cops were investigating a gathering in the PM's flat the night Dominic Cummings resigned
• Ms Gray said some staff felt too afraid to challenge the behaviour inside No10
• Boris Johnson is set to rally Tory MPs at a meeting this evening
• He will then avoid the fallout by jetting off to Ukraine tomorrow

DIRTY DOZEN

Crucial findings have been redacted from the report after Scotland Yard demanded Ms Gray leaves out anything that encroaches on their own inquiry.

Dame Cressida Dick took a wrecking ball to the civil service probe by launching her own police investigation into eight parties in Downing Street and Whitehall.

In her report Ms Gray revealed the Met were investigating 12 out of the 16 gatherings that formed part of her probe.

It means references to these 12 gatherings were effectively off-limits for the final version of her pared-back report.

They include the "bring your own booze bash" in the Downing St garden, and two No10 parties on the eve of Prince Philip's funeral.

But worryingly for Mr Johnson it also includes a gathering in the No10 flat on November 13, the night Dominic Cummings left.

Despite press reports of attendees belting out ABBA, the PM has previously suggested in the Commons that a party did not take place, while Carrie Johnson's spokesperson has categorically denied it.

That the police are investigating the gathering suggests they have found evidence of law-breaking.

DRESSING DOWN

Although holding back from implying criminality, Ms Gray accused Downing St staff of not following the rules they were inflicting on the nation.

She said: "At least some of the gatherings in question represent a serious failure to observe not just the high standards expected of those working at the heart of
Government but also of the standards expected of the entire British population
at the time."

The Whitehall tough-nut added that at times "too little thought" was given to the suffering of the public.

Downing Street has not committed to publish the full findings of the Gray report even once the cops finish, meaning they may never see the light of day.

Mr Johnson and senior Downing St staff have been interviewed as part of the process.

The PM has for weeks been urging rebellious Tory MPs to wait for the Gray report before submitting letters of no confidence in his leadership.

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He has insisted the findings would exonerate him from any lockdown-rule breaking and "draw a line" under the saga.

But it remains to be seen if the watered-down report is enough to bring would-be mutineers back from the ledge – or whether they'll hold judgement until the Met probe concludes.

Seven Tory MPs have so far publicly called for Mr Johnson to resign, along with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.

Publication of the Gray report had been expected to trigger a further cascade of letters, but temperatures now appear to have cooled.

Mr Johnson's loyalists has been shoring up support with wavering MPs, while the PM has been meeting some personally in his office.

He's vowed to shake-up his top team in Downing Street and pursue more Conservative policies.

Today he launched a Brexit Freedoms Bill and is planning to publish the long-awaited Levelling Up white paper this week.

KEY ALLEGED RULE-BREAKING PARTY

SOME of the alleged rule-breaking parties in Downing Street during lockdown:

May 15 2020 – Boris, Carrie and key staff pictured drinking in the No10 garden

Rules: Meet one other person outside the household in public socially distanced. Gatherings in private gardens banned.

May 20 2020 – No10 top aide invites 100 staff to a “BYOB” bash in the Downing Street garden

Rules: Meet one other person outside the household in public socially distanced. Gatherings in private gardens banned.

June 19 2020 – Boris presented with a birthday cake in the Cabinet Room 

Rules: Rule of 6 outside. No gatherings indoors unless for work

November 13 2020 – Boris gives a leaving speech for departing aide Lee Cain 

Rules: Full lockdown

November 27 2020 – Boris gives a speech at the leaving party for departing aide Cleo Watson

Rules: Full lockdown

December 15 2020 – No10 Christmas quiz, where PM appears virtually

Rules: Tier 2 London. No meeting inside. Rule of six outside 

April 12 2021 – Two No10 parties on eve of Prince Philip’s funeral

Rules: No indoor mixing between households 

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