Police will delay updates on Downing Street party probe

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson departs Downing Street to deliver a statement at the Houses of Parliament, London, Britain, April 19, 2022. REUTERS/Toby Melville

LONDON (Reuters) - Police will withhold any updates on their probe into alleged breaches of COVID-19 lockdown rules at gatherings and parties in Downing Street until after next month's local elections, the Metropolitan Police said on Thursday.

Large parts of Britain are due to vote in elections for local and regional authority positions on May 5 in what will be interpreted as a measure of the damage caused to Johnson's Conservative leadership by the so-called 'partygate' scandal.