Issue 10 receives copies of Sue Gray’s report on Partygate
Copies of Sue Gray’s report have now reached number 10, reports Pippa Crear of Mirror.
NEW: No 10 sources tell me that paper copies of Sue Gray’s report have just arrived in the building.
– Pippa Crerer (@PippaCrerar) May 25, 2022
Updated at 09.20 BST
Subordinate officials at No. 10 feel as if they have “hung up to dry up” on Partygate, Lord Kerslake, a former head of public administration, said this morning. Kerslake, who has also advised the Labor Party, told Times Radio:
There is no doubt that senior officials, if they are aware of these holidays and have let them happen, or have even participated in them, are responsible and accountable.
The clear and most important responsibility lies with the Prime Minister. It’s his house, it’s his office.
What I catch is a lot of anger among the junior staff, who feel like they’re being hung up to dry.
They cooperated with Sue Gray’s research; then these tests went to the police. They have been fined and do not feel they have the right support.
From Pippa Crerar del Mirall
The latest is that staff at No. 10 will only be able to view these hard copies in a Downing Street room at 10 a.m.
– Pippa Crerer (@PippaCrerar) May 25, 2022
George Eustice, the Environment Secretary, was giving interviews on behalf of the government this morning and told Times Radio that the dividing line between work and social activity on Downing Street during the pandemic was clearly blurred. He said:
Clearly, what happened at number 10 is a developed culture where they worked, it was their place of work, and there were times when they had a drink at the end of the day.
This boundary between what was acceptable and what was not blurred was a mistake and Sue Gray highlighted it in her first interim report and I think she will almost certainly say more when her final report comes out.
Eustice also hinted that the cost of living package could be announced tomorrow, saying: “I understand that [Rishi Sunak, the chancellor] He’s looking at things and maybe we’ll hear more this week. “
According to a report by Anna Isaac for the Independent, Downing Street has made contingency plans for the possible resignation of Cabinet Secretary Simon Case following the release of Sue Gray’s report. Isaac says:
The drafted letter notes Mr. Case’s contributions during the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. He also notes that he took on the role of Sir Mark Sedwill in September 2020, when the country was in the midst of facing Covid, his biggest challenge since World War II.
But Robert Peston, ITV’s political editor, says Case will not resign.
Official sources have told me that Cabinet Secretary Simon Case will NOT resign as Cabinet Secretary. https://t.co/gWCk0uVAe4
– Robert Peston (@Peston) May 25, 2022
Issue 10 receives copies of Sue Gray’s report on Partygate
Copies of Sue Gray’s report have now reached number 10, reports Pippa Crear of Mirror.
NEW: No 10 sources tell me that paper copies of Sue Gray’s report have just arrived in the building.
– Pippa Crerer (@PippaCrerar) May 25, 2022
Updated at 09.20 BST
Sue Gray’s report is expected to be released in a matter of hours amid new details on the 10th beverage culture
Good morning. We look forward to receiving the full report from Sue Gray on Partygate later today, and while it would be a mistake to say that this is the biggest threat to date for Boris Johnson’s chances of survival as Conservative leader and prime minister, a few months the majority of deputies. and commentators would have accepted that the police investigation was more dangerous, it will certainly be dangerous for him. The appetite among Conservative MPs for a leadership contest seems to have faded in recent weeks, although it is not impossible that the mood may change rapidly in the next 24 hours.
As serious as this is, the government seems ready to announce a $ 1 billion bailout package tomorrow. Ministers were working on this anyway, but the desire to publish it tomorrow is no coincidence, and it may be the most expensive dead cat ever. Downing Street is shaping up to feature big ads to bury the embarrassment of a Partygate story; happened with the Covid B plan before Christmas.
Last night, the BBC aired a documentary Panorama which gave more details of the party culture at number 10. We covered it here and here. The full meaning of Allegra Stratton’s throwing phrase “And she didn’t distance herself socially” in the 10th informative essay showing her and her colleagues joking about a Downing Street Christmas party leaked later, it is clear in light of the revelation that one was leaving. so it was so crowded that people were sitting on each other’s lap.
And this morning the Daily Mirror has new evidence of a No. 10 party that was not investigated by Sue Gray or the police. In her report Pippa Crerar says:
Downing Street faces further questions about the Partygate scandal after a new image of another No. 10 blockade session appeared.
The picture shows a table full of gas and wine bottles to mark the last press conference held by Assistant Principal James Slack on November 17, 2020.
The event, which according to sources was attended by between 30 and 40 employees, is not believed to have been investigated by Mrs Gray or Scotland Yard.
He was sent to the helpers of a WhatsApp group in response to a message from a senior official who wrote, “It’s time to open Covid’s secure bar.”
In the early afternoon, No. 10 officials exchanged messages that appeared to show that the event was planned in advance.
The Mirror has put on its cover the new image, which shows a table with drinks for the event.
At the last minute, Chris Mason, the BBC’s political editor, said Gray had not yet sent his report to Downing Street.
NEW: Sue Gray’s report, I’m told, is still working this morning for her team in the Cabinet Office.
This is in line with the schedules his team was expecting last night: they plan to send him to Downing Street soon.
https://t.co/32CEC1qqW5
– Chris Mason (@ChrisMasonBBC) May 25, 2022
Today I will focus almost exclusively on Partygate. Some times have not yet been confirmed, but here is the agenda for the day.
Morning: Sue Gray is expected to send her report to Partygate at number 10.
Late Morning / Early Afternoon: Sue Gray’s report is expected to be released.
12pm: Boris Johnson faces Keir Starmer in the PMQ.
12:30 p.m .: Johnson is expected to make a statement to lawmakers on Sue Gray’s report.
Afternoon / First Evening: Johnson is expected to hold a press conference sometime in the afternoon or afternoon.
5pm: Johnson is scheduled to address Conservative MPs in a private meeting.
I try to control the comments below the line (BTL) but it is impossible to read them all. If you have a direct question, include “Andrew” somewhere and you’re more likely to find it. I try to answer questions and, if they are of general interest, I will post the question and answer over the line (ATL), although I can’t promise to do it for everyone.
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Updated at 09.26 BST