The covers of British newspapers offer nuances of Gray contrasting sharply with the handling of the report on the Partygate scandal and its implications for Boris Johnson’s tenure at 10 Downing Street.
“Drinking, fighting, vomiting: all in one day’s work, says Prime Minister” is how The Guardian sums up the Prime Minister’s attempt to dishonor the publication of Sue Gray’s report which found that “high leadership” at number 10 should be responsible for the culture of the drink.
Photo: The Guardian
According to sketch writer John Crace, after 30 seconds of remorse in the Commons, Johnson quickly rewrote with “the apology of the classic narcissist. A torrent of self-pity. A man more sinful than against a sinner. good man adrift in a world he barely understood ”.
The Mirror focuses on how, while the nation was shut up and mourning loved ones alone, the Prime Minister and his staff “laughed at all of us.”
Metro picks up the commentary from a senior assistant Boris Johnson as headline. “Red wine on the walls no. 10, vomiting, fights, but … ‘We got out of it’ ”.
Tomorrow’s paper Today 📰
“WE GOT OUT”
🔴 Brazen Downing St staff knew everyone was breaking the rules🔴 Prime Minister says sorry, but then denies lying to parliament pic.twitter.com/tjE0RQ8282
– Metro (@MetroUK) May 25, 2022
The FT says “Johnson did not bow while Gray exposes the appalling details of the No. 10 match” and considers that once conservative is now “unlikely”.
It picks up on the theme of Gray’s conclusion: “Leadership Failure.”
However, it is a very different picture if you look at some of the Conservative supporting documents.
The mail takes on an indignant tone with a headline asking, “Is that it?” It is placed under a long caption that accumulates at its main point: “For months, the Prime Minister’s enemies salivated at the prospect of Sue Gray climbing him. However, after the innocuous photos of their report on M&S juice and sandwiches, even they must be asking … “
There is also no possibility of confusing the Express with one of Johnson’s enemies, as it makes the Prime Minister easy. “Really … is that all the fuss about?” he is the holder of the cover on an image of him toasting with his cane.
For the Telegraph, the Gray report is not the main story of the day, as it prefers to lead with “Sunak to extend the energy bill relief”. However, he does report that “Johnson denies covering up Abba’s party on the Downing Street floor,” and also brings an unlikely joke to an inside story by TV presenter Patrick Kielty who reads “Wild late nights in Sue Gray’s pub “.
The Times also ranks the cost of living story first and Gray second. Its headline is “The Gray report vindicates me on all 10 games,” says Johnson.
Photo: The Times
The Sun, meanwhile, combines the two in what it calls a “message to Prime Minister Boris.” “The party (the door) is over … now we help our readers overcome the cost of living crisis.”
But if pro-Johnson newspapers expect their champion to finally be out of the woods, the non-London treatment of the story could pause to think.
The Northern Echo, which serves many constituencies that became Tory in 2019, has a compelling cover with a picture of Johnson superimposed on Middlesbrough Labor MP Andy McDonald’s headline: “‘Blood on your brutty.
The Yorkshire Post is not so cruel, but it nevertheless condemns a government with many seats in the region. “Leadership and Judgment Failures” he says under the image of a sad-looking Johnson.
It would have been tempting to follow the chronology of the day, leaving the last word to the Prime Minister. Some will. Some will not. Some will create their own titles. But from the first moment, we knew we wanted to offer Sue Gray the courtesy of summarizing things, so we did. pic.twitter.com/1xDknnPqQH
– James Mitchinson (@JayMitchinson) May 25, 2022
In Scotland, the Record says “Tory party enough to get sick”.