Pressure on UK's Johnson after lockdown birthday bash

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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is in more hot water after allegedly breaking COVID-19 lockdown rules - again.

And now, after initially refusing to investigate, Britain's top police officer has said an investigation into the possible breaches has been opened.

This time, Jonhson is fighting fresh claims that he attended a surprise birthday party thrown for him in Downing Street, at a time when social gatherings indoors were banned.

According to UK broadcaster ITV, up to 30 people attended the event in the Cabinet Room of No. 10 on June 19, 2021 - Johnson's office and residence.

ITV alleges that Johnson was presented with a cake whilst Carrie, now his wife, led staff in a chorus of happy birthday.

His office said Johnson attended for less than 10 minutes.

And now the police will be investigating reported breaches, after receiving evidence from an internal government probe into a series of gatherings.

Here's London police chief, Cressida Dick.

''I can confirm that the Met is now investigating a number of events that took place at Downing Street and Whitehall in the last two years in relation to potential breaches of COVID-19 regulations."

Revelations of revelry, including boozy parties, suitcases of supermarket wine, a broken children's swing, a wine fridge and jokes by staff about how to present such parties to reporters, have hammered Johnson's approval ratings.

[Boris Johnson] "So I welcome the Met's decision to conduct its own investigation because I believe this will help to give the public the clarity it needs and help to draw a line under matters."

Johnson has given a variety of explanations about the previous allegations of frivolity.

Initially, he said no rules had been broken.

But then apologized to the British people for the apparent hypocrisy of such gatherings.

An official investigation by Cabinet Office official Sue Gray into the parties is due to be published later this week.