The Prime Minister does not refer to himself as “big dog”, No 10 said.
Following reports of a bid to save Boris Johnson from censure off the back of the so-called partygate scandal, reports suggested a concerted effort dubbed “Operation: Save Big Dog” had been launched.
Fury over the gatherings was compounded when it emerged that two events were held in No 10 the day before the Queen had to sit alone at the funeral of her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, last year.
But when the Prime Minister’s official spokesman was asked whether Mr Johnson was referred to by staff as “big dog”, he said: "I’ve never heard that term used".
Asked whether the PM referred to himself by the nickname, the spokesman said: “Certainly not that I am aware of".
Meanwhile, a Cabinet minister has dismissed suggestions that there is a concerted effort to save the Prime Minister from censure over the partygate scandal.
Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi said he does not recognise “that language about red meat or big dogs” after it was reported that “populist” policies are to be pushed by the Government in a bid to allow Boris Johnson to survive the furore.
But reports have suggested that, under a move dubbed “Operation: Save Big Dog”, Mr Johnson will overhaul his top team and focus on “red meat” policies, including putting the military in charge of preventing small boats from crossing the Channel.
Mr Zahawi told BBC Breakfast: “Honestly, I don’t recognise that at all".
He added: “Government doesn’t operate like that".
However, over the weekend, Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said the next announcement about the BBC licence fee “will be the last”, reopening the debate over the corporation’s future.
House of Commons
No 10 said it “couldn’t put a timescale on” when the Prime Minister would present Sue Gray’s report to Parliament following her investigation’s conclusion.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said there was a commitment to release the report in full, but said: “Obviously we’d need to, as with any parliamentary statement, we’d need to work with the Speaker’s office.
“I couldn’t put a timescale on it, but we certainly, we are… we want this to be published and you’d expect to hear from the PM swiftly but beyond that it all depends on exactly when the report is concluded and when it’s made available.”
