Boris Johnson will chair a cabinet meeting as he attempts to shift the focus from a series of claims and questions over his conduct.
Among them is an accusation the PM once said he would rather see “bodies pile high” than approve a third lockdown.
Mr Johnson and No 10 strongly denied he said the phrase, as the PM described multiple reports as “total rubbish”.
The prime minister is also facing mounting pressure over the cost of redecorating his Downing Street flat.
Downing Street refused to say whether Mr Johnson received a loan from the Conservative Party to pay for renovations, but said any “gifts or benefits” would be declared in the ministerial transparency registers.
Mr Johnson is expected to use the cabinet meeting to emphasise the importance of ministers focusing on everyday concerns, rather than the noise at Westminster.
The cabinet meeting will provide an opportunity for senior ministers to wrestle back control of the political agenda after a series of damaging allegations made by Mr Johnson’s former chief aide Dominic Cummings last week.
No 10 said the cabinet would be told to focus on “jabs and jobs”.
