Cabinet minister insists he does not know who called Johnson-Gray meeting

Nadhim Zahawi clashed with BBC’s Joanne Coburn over the importance of knowing who called the meeting between the Prime Minister and the senior civil servant Sue Gray, ahead of the publishing of her report into the law-breaking parties at Number 10 and in Whitehall during the pandemic. Mr Zahawi said he has not asked No 10 who called the meeting between Boris Johnson and Sue Gray over the partygate report because he does not deem it necessary. Asked if he had called Downing Street for clarification over the matter, the Education Secretary told the BBC’s Sunday Morning programme: “I don’t need to because I don’t believe that having a meeting with your senior civil servant is material to the outcome. That civil servant is independent in their investigation and has the highest level of professionalism and integrity.”