Dominic Cummings has accused Sue Gray of not properly investigating the alleged “Abba party” at Boris Johnson’s apartment during the confinement, saying the music was so loud that dozens of people working in the downstairs office could hear it.
In his first interview since he finished his Partygate investigation last week, the former prime minister-in-chief turned archcriticist said the meeting that took place the night he left No. 10 was not a meeting of work.
Cummings said Gray’s justification for not taking a good look at the event was “blatant”, suggesting that he rolled his eyes and took a “shit” attitude.
In his report, Gray admitted that he had just started collecting evidence about the meeting on 13 November 2020 when police became involved, and that he decided not to continue when he concluded the Scotland Yard investigation because “it was not appropriate. nor provided “.
In his review of the event, Gray said a meeting was held on the Downing Street floor with five special advisers, whom Johnson joined at 8 p.m., and provided food and alcohol. It became known as “Abba’s Party” because The Winner Takes It All was released from the apartment, allegedly because Johnson’s wife, Carrie, was celebrating Cummings’ departure.
Carrie Johnson was not mentioned in connection with the event in the Gray report. Over the weekend, her spokeswoman did not deny reports that another party had been held in the flat earlier this year, on the day of the prime minister’s birthday.
Some Conservative MPs told the Guardian they feared a cover-up when the flat party was not properly investigated. Speaking to journalist Suzanne Moore, Cummings said of Gray’s decision not to fully investigate the November 2020 plan event that “they just said, ‘Shit, we’re not going to get involved.’
Recalling his surprise that it had not been reported for so long, Cummings said, “Because we were in an extreme blockade, it had no coverage. The media was so glad I was gone, no one wanted to talk about it.
“Dozens of people downstairs could hear it, so the police only had to interview any of them to find out. You don’t have a business meeting, at the top of number 10, where the music is so loud you can hear it in the fucking press office. ”
Cummings suggested Johnson could still survive as prime minister, despite a large number of Conservative MPs sending letters of censure and questioning his leadership in light of the Gray report.
“He’s thinking that if they don’t let him out before August, he has a reasonable chance of changing the election,” Cummings said. “And he’ll think, ‘Oh, I’m still here. I was close to disaster, but I just escaped. ‘ Plus, he’ll be looking at Starmer and rightly thinking “it’s rubbish.”
“But remember, he really doesn’t want to be there long. All he wants to do is not be a loser and not be dishonored.”
Cummings, however, added: “It definitely looks like the institutions are collapsing.”
Sign up for First Edition, our free daily newsletter, every weekday morning at 7am
In his apology to lawmakers last week, Johnson said that of the eight meetings he attended, which were examined by Gray and the metropolitan police, he believed he was attending work events.
“They were part of my job,” he said, adding that it was confirmed by the fact that he was only fined for the birthday celebration that took place in the cabinet hall in June 2020.
He said party staff, some of whom continued until dawn, believed they were working.
“It’s my strong impression that they genuinely believed that what they were doing was working. I certainly don’t think they set out to fool you about it,” Johnson added.
He approached Gray for comment.