BOris Johnson yesterday refused to acknowledge the law had been broken for ‘partygate’ despite the Metropolitan Police issuing 20 fines.

However, Dominic Raab, the Justice Secretary, said it was “clear there were breaches of the law”.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the international trade secretary, agreed this morning with Mr Raab on a move that will put pressure on the Prime Minister’s position.

Ms Trevelyan initially refused to be drawn to the issue as she told Sky News: ‘So I’ve always been the case, I prefer to let the professionals carry on and finish the work they do, then Sue Gray’s report number two who will be able to put all the evidence she has gathered in the round and indeed so that the Prime Minister can come and speak in the House at that time.

But she was repeatedly pushed by presenter Kay Burley who, later in the interview, told the minister that ’20 cases of fines issued means 20 cases of people breaking the law’.

Ms Trevelyan replied: “Well, it’s true, they broke the regulations set out in the Covid Act and the police believe that’s what they did and so they were fined accordingly. ”

Asked why Mr Johnson wouldn’t say the same, she said: ‘Because, as I said, he wants to wait until the whole police review process is complete.’