The latest from Partygate: No 10 brackets for the full Sue Gray report
Pressure mounts on PM ahead of detailed report on lockdown parties at Downing Street and Whitehall
Downing Street has received Sue Gray’s report on the parties breaking lockdown rules at No 10 and Whitehall.
The senior official’s full report, which is yet to be released, is expected to slam the culture in No10 that has led to repeated breaches of Covid restrictions.
It is expected to be more in-depth than the Metropolitan Police investigation, which concluded last week, and will include the names of rule-breakers.
The Cabinet Office confirmed the report was now with Boris Johnson on Wednesday (May 25), with a spokesman stating: “We can confirm that Sue Gray has presented her final report to the Prime Minister.”
Officials affected by the Gray investigation, including those to be named, were written to ahead of its release to give them an opportunity to respond before it was complete.
An abridged version of the report was published in January, analyzing events that took place from May 15, 2020 to April 16, 2021.
Full disclosure of the parties was then brushed aside as the Met conducted its own investigation, dubbed Operation Hillman, which concluded on May 19.
A total of 126 fines were imposed on 83 people, including the Prime Minister, his wife Carrie Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak.
Two new photos were released earlier this week which appear to show separate gatherings at Downing Street. Pictures obtained by ITV appear to show Mr Johnson toasting and drinking wine at a gathering to mark the departure of former communications chief Lee Cain on November 13, 2020.
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Last updated: Wednesday May 25, 2022 10:27 am
Report from Sue Gray is expected today
The full Sue Gray report is expected to be released on Wednesday (May 25).
However, the BBC reported on Tuesday night that the officer would deliver her completed report later that day, with the decision on its publication date pending No 10.
A press conference is expected to be held at Downing Street after Ms Gray’s results were released.
Boris Johnson will also address the 1922 Committee of Backbench Tories and the House of Commons on Wednesday.
PM under fire for leaked party photos
Boris Johnson came under fire from Tory MPs on Tuesday (May 24) after leaked photos show him raising a glass to a colleague at Downing Street while leaving work during lockdown.
Photos obtained by ITV News were taken on November 13, 2020 for outgoing communications chief Lee Cain and appear to show the Prime Minister toasting a colleague during England’s second national lockdown when people were not allowed to get in to mix indoor spaces with other households.
Mr Johnson was not fined by police over the event seen in the pictures, which show at least nine people in close proximity along with six bottles of wine.
Downing Street declined to defend the scene depicted and said the Prime Minister would comment after Sue Gray’s account was published in full in partygate.
Boris Johnson ‘didn’t think he was at a party’
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said Boris Johnson does not believe he attended a party after leaked images showed him raising a glass at a Downing Street and doing something during lockdown.
The four photos, released on Monday (May 23), show Mr Johnson holding a drink while standing behind a table strewn with bottles of wine and groceries.
He was not fined by the Metropolitan Police for the incident seen in the pictures, which show at least nine people in close proximity along with six bottles of wine.
Defending the Prime Minister, Mr Shapps said the photos do not change what police and Sue Gray, the senior officer investigating lockdown violations in Whitehall, already know.
The Cabinet Secretary told Sky News: “I don’t think the fact that we are seeing the images for the first time changes what the police and Sue Gray already know.
“I see his red box there which is his work box, to me it looks like on his way out of the office he goes downstairs and thanks the staff and raises a glass and doesn’t recognize it in his head as Party. And indeed, the police took care of it and expended a lot of time and resources.”
Partygate timeline at a glance
Sue Gray’s report will be ‘very tough’ for PM
Sue Gray’s report will be “very, very tough on the leadership of the Prime Minister and the senior officials involved” at Partygate, the former head of public services has said.
Lord Kerslake said it was “really important” that Ms Gray was not undermined and described her as a woman of “great integrity” who had been “put into an impossible position”.
He told Sky News: “I have been deeply concerned by some of the comments that have been made to undermine the credibility of her actions, suggesting that she is going above and beyond her mandate – this is horrible.
“As far as I know, I’m quite aware that it’s going to be very, very tough for the Prime Minister’s leadership and the senior officials involved and I think that’s right.
“There has been an appalling failure of standards and we have to acknowledge that.”
He added: “The Prime Minister is effectively her boss, so now she’s making a report that could affect whether the Prime Minister, her boss, has a future.
“She should not have been placed in this position, but I know she will produce a report of great strength and clarity.”
Most senior officials will not resign through Partygate
Britain’s longest-serving civil servant, Simon Case, will not resign and will not be sacked by Boris Johnson over Partygate, sources say.
Mr Case is the current head of civil service and could be criticized in the report but is not expected to lose his job.
Lord Kerslake, former head of public services, said it would be “bizarre” if Mr Case took charge of Partygate and Mr Johnson did not.
He told Times Radio: “I think he should take his share of the responsibility.
“It would be bizarre if Simon Case fell on his sword despite not attending the parties and was not fined and the Prime Minister sails on despite attending parties and being fined.
“It doesn’t matter to me how many fines he (Mr Johnson) had – the fact is there was a failure of leadership.
“I think they’re connected at the waist and I can’t see how one takes responsibility and the other doesn’t.”
#10 receives report from Sue Gray
Downing Street has now received Sue Gray’s report on the parties breaking lockdown rules at No 10 and Whitehall, the Cabinet Office has confirmed.
A Cabinet Office spokesman said: “We can confirm that Sue Gray has presented her final report to the Prime Minister.”
A press conference is expected to be held at Downing Street after Ms Gray’s results were released.
Boris Johnson will also address the 1922 Committee of Backbench Tories and the House of Commons on Wednesday.
https://www.nationalworld.com/news/politics/sue-gray-report-release-boris-johnson-downing-street-partygate-report-published-3707673 The latest from Partygate: No 10 brackets for the full Sue Gray report
