Radio 4 presenter Nick Robinson abruptly ended an interview with a Tory MP who repeatedly refused to answer his questions on Partygate.
In an excruciating exchange, Alexander Stafford claimed several times that her plans for Whitehall enforcer Sue Gray to work for Keir Starmer discredited her report into lockdown-busting parties.
But the Today programme presenter pointed out she 'didn't deliver the suitcases of alcohol' to No10 during the pandemic.
The top civil servant dramatically quit her Cabinet Office post yesterday following reports she was being lined up to be chief of staff for the Labour leader.
The move sparked a major Tory backlash, with MPs trying to claim it undermined her Partygate report which tore into "failures of leadership and judgement" in Boris Johnson's Government during the pandemic.
Her findings were published after the Met Police issued more than 120 fines for lockdown rule-breaking in No10 and Whitehall - including for Mr Johnson and Rishi Sunak.
Allies of Mr Johnson have tried to claim its a sign that the scandal - first revealed by the Mirror - was a plot to oust him.
But BBC Today programme presenter Nick Robinson was having none of it during a fiery interview this morning.
Mr Stafford was asked about a tweet on Thursday where he said Ms Gray's potential appointment was "very dodgy".
He told the programme: "This really doesn't pass the sniff test. It really undermines the work that she's done, it undermines civil service, and really puts into question Sir Keir's complete judgement."
But Mr Robinson challenged him on whyt Ms Gray was described as impartial when the Government appointed her to lead a probe into Partygate - but now she's apparently biased.
Mr Stafford questioned whether Ms Gray had been impartial and when conversations began with Labour about the role.
But Mr Robinson hit back: "Correct me if I'm wrong. Sue Gray didn't unlock the bottles of wine. She didn't deliver the suitcases of alcohol.
"She didn't deliver a fridge to Downing Street. In what way does it discredit the allegations of Partygate?"
The Rother Valley MP sidestepped this question and instead demanded to know who Ms Gray was working for - the British public or preparing for a job interview.
Pressed again on whether Sue Gray was responsible for the parties in No10, Mr Robinson tried to question her motives.
Asked again about her role in Partygate, he said: "Did Sue Gray have any information that you pass on to Keir or try to look at information in a particular light?"
Mr Robinson told him: "That's the third time you've ignored the question."
He asked if there should be a fresh inquiry into Partygate but Mr Stafford again dodged this and said there should be an inquiry into how Sue Gray was appointed.
The presenter interjected: "I know you aren't a regular on the Today programme but we have a habit here, which is I ask a question and you at least make some appearance of trying to answer the question rather than simply ignoring it.
"So I'll ask it again. Do you want a fresh inquiry into the Partygate allegations?"
The MP started saying he wanted an inquiry into "every aspect of it", when Mr Robinson decided he'd had enough.
"If you are simply going ignore the questions. I think we'll end the interview there."
Labour said it was "ludicrous" to suggest that Ms Gray's plans to join Mr Starmer's office show the Partygate scandal was manufactured to bring down the former PM.
Shadow Culture Secretary Lucy Powell told Times Radio: "I think that's just a ludicrous claim by Boris Johnson and stands in stark contrast to what he said at the time the report was published, and all the while that the report and the investigation was taking place, when the prime minister - and indeed the rest of the Conservative government - were at pains to tell the country how independent and impartial, and how formidable, Sue Gray was as a civil servant, which she absolutely was."
Ms Powell said it was an attempt by Mr Johnson to "vindicate himself further".
