THURROCK'S MP has drawn attention to 'flunkies in Number 10' and of the 'self-indulgent bureaucracy' surrounding the Prime Minister.

Jackie Doyle-Price spoke up in the House of Commons this afternoon, quizzing PM Boris Johnson just hours after the two shared a visit to Tilbury for the official opening the UK's latest port – Tilbury2 - today (Monday, 31 January).

Ms Doyle-Price spoke after Mr Johnson had delivered his verdict on the interim report by senior civil servant and Second Permanent Secretary in the Cabinet Office, Sue Gray, into breaches of covid protocols in Downing Street.

In her report Ms Gray said what she could publish was limited because the Met Police is also investigating but in a damning passage she blamed 'failures of leadership and judgment" at No 10 and in the Cabinet Office.

Her findings revealed that the Met Police was investigating 12 parties in Downing Street and other government buildings. In a statement, the force said it would review "more than 300 images and over 500 pages of information'.

The Prime Minister once again apologised for mistakes made in his department and pledged to follow the directive of Ms Gray and reform the Number 10 office, creating a new Office of the Prime Minister.

After his address to parliament Mr Boris faced questions, including one from Ms Doyle Price, who said: "If I just draw attention to finding number 7 in this report which documents that Number 10 Downing Street has morphed from a small team supporting the Prime Minister to a self-indulgent bureaucracy, all its own.

"And I personally am tired of reading in Sunday newspapers of briefings against ministers, delays by things being stuck in number 10 as I speak to ministers who are getting frustrated.

"So could I ask my Rt Honourable Friend that as he institutes this review, call me old-fashioned, but ministers are accountable for decisions that are taken in their name, not flunkies in number 10, and will he ensure that reforms properly restore ministerial accountability?"

Mr Johnson responded by saying: "I thank her very much and I very much enjoyed our joint trip to Tilbury this morning and I can tell her that yes, I do think that it's vital, as Sue Gray says, that we learn from this and that we strengthen cabinet government and the principle of ministerial responsibility."