Tory fears over Sue Gray legal adviser who tweeted ‘if you trust the PM, you’re a mug’

BORIS JOHNSON’S allies have questioned whether it was appropriate for a lawyer who has criticised the Prime Minister to have advised the civil service investigation into partygate.

Daniel Stilitz QC, who helped Sue Gray in her inquiries on alleged Covid rule breaking in government, once tweeted that Mr Johnson should not be trusted.

Mr Stilitz also previously shared comments online accusing Mr Johnson of “fake news”, criticised Brexit and urged people to sign up to the Labour Party.

The Prime Minister’s allies want to know the extent of the legal role Mr Stilitz played in Ms Gray’s investigation, which began as an internal inquiry but was eventually taken over by the police.

One Whitehall source questioned whether he should have been involved, given the emergence of the handful of anti-johnson social media posts.

Separately, there has been alarm in Whitehall at leaks about the content of the Gray report, including suggestions that it is so damning that, once published, Mr Johnson will have to resign.

Ms Gray’s report into allegations of lockdown-breaking parties will be made public once the Metropolitan Police has completed its investigation.

Rebels plotting to oust the Prime Minister have targeted the publication date – which could be weeks or months away – as a moment they could renew their push to force him from office.

In an initial update on her inquiries in January, Ms Gray, a senior civil servant, said that Mr Stilitz had “provided independent advice as to the process”.

Little further information has been provided on the scale or specificity of advice given by Mr Stilitz. Yet details about some of his Left-leaning political views began to emerge last week.

In one tweet as the Prime Minister negotiated Brexit, Mr Stilitz said: “A salutary warning for Labour MPS considering backing the deal: if you trust Johnson, you’re a mug.”

In another tweet prior to his appointment, he posted about “Johnson’s fake news machine” and called an article he shared a link to a “searing indictment” of how the media have been “played by No10”. In separate tweets, prior to the Sue Gray inquiry, Mr Stilitz reportedly criticised Brexit and urged people to sign up to the Labour Party.

Other apparent links to the Left have emerged. Mr Stilitz is director of the High Pay Centre, a think tank with close links to the Left-leaning Compass group. The think tank says it is independent and non-partisan. Allies of Mr Johnson have been left alarmed at the apparent contents of the Gray report.

Given the weight Tory MPS are putting on the as-yet-unknown revelations, it is possible supporters of the Prime Minister could seek to call into question how it was produced.

Few details of Mr Stilitz’s role in Ms Gray’s investigation have emerged. A Cabinet Office spokesman said: “Daniel Stilitz has extensive experience of government work... across a wide range of significant cases. As with all members of the Bar, his personal views are his own and have no bearing on the professional advice that he provides as an independently regulated barrister.

“He is bound by the Code of Conduct which sets out that all barristers maintain their independence and act in the best interests of their client.”

Mr Stilitz did not comment when approached by email.