https://sputnikglobe.com/20220131/probe-reveals-serious-violations-during-some-no-10-gatherings-involving-johnson-amid-lockdown-1092640501.html
Probe Reveals ‘Serious Violations’ During Some No 10 Gatherings Involving Johnson Amid Lockdown
Probe Reveals ‘Serious Violations’ During Some No 10 Gatherings Involving Johnson Amid Lockdown
Sputnik International
Sue Gray's interim report makes many harsh — if generalised — criticisms of the Conservative government. But PM Boris Johnson will be pleased it does not... 31.01.2022, Sputnik International
2022-01-31T14:39+0000
2022-01-31T14:39+0000
2023-05-28T15:18+0000
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British government officials showed "failures of leadership" in allowing staff to socialise at Downing Street during the COVID-19.Senior civil servant Sue Gray's "update" on her eagerly-awaited report into the so-called 'Partygate' row was short on specifics, instead focussing on general principles.The 12-page document was released on Monday afternoon, after being delivered to Prime Minister Boris Johnson that morning but ahead of his statement to the House of Commons scheduled for 3.30pm.The PM could draw solace that Gray did not specifically accuse him of wrongdoing — although it criticised Downing Street for allowing "excessive" drinking by staff in the afternoons."At times it seems there was too little thought given to what was happening across the country in considering the appropriateness of some of these gatherings," she wrote in her summary.Gray questioned Johnson's staff over 16 alleged gatherings over 20 months at the seat of government in 2020 and 2021, during periods when the UK was under lockdown restrictions."The excessive consumption of alcohol is not appropriate in a professional workplace at any time," she recommended. "Steps must be taken to ensure that every Government Department has a clear and robust policy in place covering the consumption of alcohol in the workplace."Those rules included the forced closure of pubs and restaurants, limits on socialising under the so-called 'rule of six', and bans on visiting sick or elderly relatives in hospitals or care homes."The whole of the country rose to the challenge," Gray noted. "Ministers, special advisers and the Civil Service, of which I am proud to be a part, were a key and dedicated part of that national effort."But "a number of these gatherings should not have been allowed to take place or to develop in the way that they did," she reiterated.It was "not possible at present to provide a meaningful report" Gray said, after a formal Metropolitan Police investigation was announced last week by commissioner Cressida Dick."As a result of the Metropolitan Police's investigations, and so as not to prejudice the police investigative process, they have told me that it would only be appropriate to make minimal reference to the gatherings on the dates they are investigating," she wrote.But the civil servant said the government should not wait for her full 70-page report or the results of the Met inquiry before taking remedial action."There is significant learning to be drawn from these events which must be addressed immediately across Government," Gray wrote. "This does not need to wait for the police investigations to be concluded."
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Probe Reveals ‘Serious Violations’ During Some No 10 Gatherings Involving Johnson Amid Lockdown
14:39 GMT 31.01.2022 (Updated: 15:18 GMT 28.05.2023) Sue Gray's interim report makes many harsh — if generalised — criticisms of the Conservative government. But PM Boris Johnson will be pleased it does not accuse him of personal rule-breaking or misleading Parliament.
British government officials showed "failures of leadership" in allowing staff to socialise at Downing Street during the COVID-19.
Senior civil servant Sue Gray's "update" on her eagerly-awaited report into the so-called 'Partygate' row was short on specifics, instead focussing on general principles.
The
12-page document was released on Monday afternoon, after being delivered to Prime Minister Boris Johnson that morning but ahead of his statement to the House of Commons scheduled for 3.30pm.
The PM could draw solace that Gray did not specifically accuse him of wrongdoing — although it criticised Downing Street for allowing "excessive" drinking by staff in the afternoons.
"At times it seems there was too little thought given to what was happening across the country in considering the appropriateness of some of these gatherings," she wrote in her summary.
"There were failures of leadership and judgement by different parts of No 10 and the Cabinet Office at different times," Gray added. "Some of the events should not have been allowed to take place. Other events should not have been allowed to develop as they did."
Gray questioned Johnson's staff over 16 alleged gatherings over 20 months at the seat of government in 2020 and 2021, during periods when the UK was under lockdown restrictions.
"The excessive consumption of alcohol is not appropriate in a professional workplace at any time," she recommended. "Steps must be taken to ensure that every Government Department has a clear and robust policy in place covering the consumption of alcohol in the workplace."
Those rules included the forced closure of pubs and restaurants, limits on socialising under the so-called 'rule of six', and bans on visiting sick or elderly relatives in hospitals or care homes.
"The whole of the country rose to the challenge," Gray noted. "Ministers, special advisers and the Civil Service, of which I am proud to be a part, were a key and dedicated part of that national effort."
But "a number of these gatherings should not have been allowed to take place or to develop in the way that they did," she reiterated.
31 January 2022, 12:02 GMT
It was "not possible at present to provide a meaningful report" Gray said, after a formal Metropolitan Police investigation was announced last week by commissioner Cressida Dick.
"As a result of the Metropolitan Police's investigations, and so as not to prejudice the police investigative process, they have told me that it would only be appropriate to make minimal reference to the gatherings on the dates they are investigating," she wrote.
"Unfortunately, this necessarily means that I am extremely limited in what I can say about those events and it is not possible at present to provide a meaningful report setting out and analysing the extensive factual information I have been able to gather," Gray stressed.
But the civil servant said the government should not wait for her full 70-page report or the results of the Met inquiry before taking remedial action.
"There is significant learning to be drawn from these events which must be addressed immediately across Government," Gray wrote. "This does not need to wait for the police investigations to be concluded."
