A CONSERVATIVE MP has defended Boris Johnson's lockdown birthday party, saying the Prime Minister was "ambushed by a cake".

Conor Burns told Channel 4 News it was not a premeditated party as he sought to defend the PM.

The comments come as the Sue Gray inquiry into the partygate scandal is expected to be released in the coming days.

The Met police also announced it will now investigate the parties after it received evidence from the senior civil servant.

READ MORE: Sue Gray to 'publish report tonight' despite partygate probe by police

Dspite the pressure on Johnson to resign, Burns defended his leader suggesting the party was foisted on him.

Journalist Cathy Newman asked the MP: "This latest party wasn't just a bit of cake in the office, was it? It was a party."

Burns replied: "You can characterise these things in different ways my understanding of that from what I know of it, and I know as much as you do or your viewers at home know, the Prime Minister was out on visits, he came back he was working in the Cabinet room.

"People came in presented him with a cake on his birthday, they sang happy birthday, he was there for about 10 minutes. It was not a premeditated organised party in that sense that the Prime Minister himself decided to have.

"As far as I can see, he was in a sense, ambushed with a cake. They came to his office with a cake they sang happy birthday, he was there for 10 minutes. I don't think most people looking at that at home would characterise that as a party."

Presenter Newman looked unimpressed as she asked "it's just sort of farcical isn't it you're all trying to scurry round and defend him?"

But the Tory MP defended Johnson, saying: "Well, he's our leader. I support him. I want him to continue as Prime Minister.

"I want him to show the British people what we can do in government to make their lives and their communities better.

"Of course, we want to draw a line under this and that's why we want the Sue Gray report to come forward as soon as she is ready.

READ MORE: UK Government refuses to say when or how much of Sue Gray's report will be released

"We want the Met to get on we're looking at whatever they're looking at, and then to make their findings public. And then the public ultimately will judge."

Burns was widely mocked for his answer. 

SNP president Michael Russell tweeted: "What a political moment - done in by a cake ambush …"

While former MSP Gil Paterson said: "He is very lucky it was only a cake, it could have been a haggis - they’re lethal!"

And MP John Nicolson tweeted: "The cake 'ambushed' Boris Johnson. There he was, minding his own business. Suddenly the cake burst into the room with a ‘eat me’ sign on its side. Johnson was astonished but inadvertently started chomping…"