Sue Gray report reveals extent of Downing Street partying after finally being published

boris johnson sue gray
The civil servant’s findings will pile but extra stress on Boris Johnson over partygate (Image: REX Getty Photos)

Boris Johnson’s premiership has been dealt one other blow after the long-awaited Sue Grey report revealed the extent of partying in Downing Road intimately. 

The senior civil servant has particularly attacked ‘senior leaders’ in authorities, saying they need to ‘bear duty’ for the tradition which led to Covid lockdown guidelines being damaged.

Newly launched footage present the prime minister and Chancellor Rishi Sunak gathered with different workers on Mr Johnson’s birthday, which each politicians obtained fined for.

Uncovered emails present one high official boasting that workers had ‘obtained away with drinks’, whereas a number of examples of ‘unacceptable’ remedy of safety and cleansing workers had been discovered.

One staffer was ‘sick’ following heavy alcohol consumption and there was a ‘minor altercation between two different people’ at a karaoke leaving do on 18 June 2020.

It has been revealed that the e-mail inviting individuals the 20 Could, 2020 ‘convey your individual booze’ backyard get together at Downing Road went out to 200 workers fairly than the 100 beforehand reported.

A No10 particular advisor messaged high aide Martin Reynolds beforehand saying: ‘Simply to flag that the press convention will in all probability be ending round that point, so useful if individuals will be conscious of that as audio system and cameras are leaving, not strolling round waving bottles of wine and so forth.’

Former communications director Lee Cain responded by emailing Mr Reynolds saying ‘I’m positive it is going to be fantastic – and I applaud the gesture’ – however warned ‘a 200 odd particular person invitation for drinks within the backyard of no 10 is considerably of a comms danger’.

He claimed he later suggested cancellation of the occasion, though Mr Reynolds stated he had no recollection of this dialog.

The gatherings within the scope of this investigation are spread over a 20-month period ? a period that has been unique in recent times in terms of the complexity and breadth of the demands on public servants and indeed the general public. The whole of the country rose to the challenge. 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. However, as I have noted, a number of these gatherings should not have been allowed to take place or to develop in the way that they did. There is significant learning to be drawn from these events which must be addressed immediately across Government. This does not need to wait for the police investigations to be concluded.
The British chief is seen giving a toast on the departure of a particular adviser (Image: Microsoft Workplace Person)

The gatherings within the scope of this investigation are spread over a 20-month period ? a period that has been unique in recent times in terms of the complexity and breadth of the demands on public servants and indeed the general public. The whole of the country rose to the challenge. 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. However, as I have noted, a number of these gatherings should not have been allowed to take place or to develop in the way that they did. There is significant learning to be drawn from these events which must be addressed immediately across Government. This does not need to wait for the police investigations to be concluded.
This image reveals the birthday occasion the PM was fined by police for (Image: Microsoft Workplace Person)

The gatherings within the scope of this investigation are spread over a 20-month period ? a period that has been unique in recent times in terms of the complexity and breadth of the demands on public servants and indeed the general public. The whole of the country rose to the challenge. 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. However, as I have noted, a number of these gatherings should not have been allowed to take place or to develop in the way that they did. There is significant learning to be drawn from these events which must be addressed immediately across Government. This does not need to wait for the police investigations to be concluded.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak was additionally fined for this occasion within the Cupboard Room (Image: Microsoft Workplace Person)

On one other event, Mr Reynolds – who stop his job in February – emailed an advisor saying: ‘A whole non story however higher than them specializing in our drinks (which we appear to have obtained away with)’.

Mr Reynolds additionally invited workers to the PM’s party on 19 June 2020, writing: ‘We're having sandwiches and cake within the Cupboard room so do come alongside and want the PM pleased birthday.’

Revealing allegations of ‘a scarcity of respect’ for cleansing and safety workers, Ms Grey wrote: ‘I discovered that some workers had witnessed or been subjected to behaviours at work which that they had felt involved about however at instances felt unable to boost correctly.’

Workers carried on ingesting in Quantity 10 till the early hours at events on the eve of the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral, with the final particular person not leaving till 4.20am, the report stated.

They ‘drank excessively’ on the Downing Road Christmas get together on December 18 2020, and a cleaner discovered crimson wine was spilled on one wall the subsequent morning

Boris Johnson joined 5 particular advisers in a mid-lockdown occasion with ‘meals and alcohol’ in his Downing Road flat on the night of the announcement of Dominic Cummings’ departure, it has been confirmed.

Ms Grey initially probed the gathering however deserted the work having solely collected ‘restricted’ data after the Metropolitan Police started their investigation. Mr Johnson was not fined for this occasion.

The British civil servant additionally halted her investigation right into a 13 November 2020 occasion in Mr Johnson’s flat at which Abba tunes had been reportedly blasted.

Her report acknowledged ‘many might be dismayed that behaviour of this type occurred on this scale on the coronary heart of Authorities’ and stated ‘what occurred fell nicely brief’ of the requirements anticipated.

A number of the extra junior officers who attended events ‘believed that their involvement in a few of these occasions was permitted given the attendance of senior leaders’, Ms Grey famous.

An excerpt from the Sue Gray report that has been issued by the Cabinet Office showing an email invitation to Downing Street staff to attend a garden party on Wednesday May 20, 2020. The Sue Gray report into Downing Street parties in Whitehall during the coronavirus lockdown has been released today. Issue date: Wednesday May 25, 2022. PA Photo. The full publication into the parties was sidelined during Operation Hillman, the Metropolitan Police's inquiry into the gatherings. The force concluded its investigation on May 19, with 126 fines being issued in total to 83 people. See PA story POLITICS Johnson. Photo credit should read: Sue Gray Report/Cabinet Office/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
An excerpt from the Sue Grey report a few drinks occasion on Could 20, 2020 (Image: PA)

boris reads sue gray report
No 10 has launched an image of Mr Johnson studying the report (Image: Andrew Parsons/No10 Downing St)

The doc concluded: ‘The entire of the nation rose to the problem. Ministers, particular advisers and the Civil Service, of which I'm proud to be an element, had been a key and devoted a part of that nationwide effort.

‘Nevertheless, as I've famous, plenty of these gatherings mustn't have been allowed to happen or to develop in the way in which that they did.

‘There's important studying to be drawn from these occasions which have to be addressed instantly throughout Authorities.  This doesn't want to attend for the police investigations to be concluded.’

No 10 has launched an image of Mr Johnson studying the report, whereas he'll tackle Parliament and maintain a press convention this afternoon.

The findings are prone to pile but extra stress on the him to resign after months of scandal across the partygate saga, which has dogged his management. 

It comes after an investigation from the Metropolitan Police noticed Downing Road and Whitehall turn into essentially the most fined location within the UK.

A complete of 83 individuals acquired at the least one fixed-penalty discover (FPN) every for attending occasions on eight separate days.

Mr Johnson turned the primary sitting PM in historical past to be discovered to have damaged the legislation.

He broke the very laws that he created – which thousands and thousands of British individuals painstakingly adopted, with many not seeing family members earlier than they died and attending funerals on Zoom.

Surprising images of events emerged within the days earlier than the report, exhibiting Mr Johnson toasting workers and tables stuffed with booze.

A earlier report prompt officers.

A supply informed  Ms Grey was ‘shocked’ he escaped with one mounted penalty discover.

They stated: ‘Sue will not be a lawyer however in her opinion the party was the least egregious occasion she has appeared into.’

The PM is now going through recent claims he misled the Commons by repeatedly denying coronavirus guidelines had been damaged in Downing Road. 

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