Boris Johnson to hold Cabinet meeting amid growing threats of Russian invasion in Ukraine and more Downing Street party claims

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Boris Johnson is meeting his Cabinet amid the growing threat of war with President Putin in eastern Europe and more humiliating Downing Street party allegations at home.

After a lengthy council of war with President Biden and other European leaders, the prime minister is expected to step up diplomatic efforts to prevent a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

But he is facing more calls to quit from Opposition leaders after new allegations that he attended a party in the Cabinet Room in 10 Downing Street on his 56th birthday in June 2020.

What parties are alleged to have taken place in Whitehall and Downing Street during lockdown?

It is reported that about 30 guests sang Happy Birthday and ate Union Jack cake in the Cabinet Room before the PM was due to chair a COVID strategy meeting to discuss the route out of lockdown.

Besides Ukraine, the regular Tuesday Cabinet meeting will also include discussions on the growing cost of living crisis and could also hear calls to scrap the national insurance hike to pay for the NHS and social care.

At the same time, ahead of Sue Gray’s “partygate” report, the PM is facing a renewed backbench mutiny and has also been forced to concede an inquiry into claims that a junior minister, Nusrat Ghani, was sacked because she is Muslim.

Mr Johnson’s emergency talks with world leaders on the Ukraine crisis, held in a virtual meeting, ended in an agreement to take all steps to prevent a Russian invasion and implement tough sanctions if an invasion goes ahead.