A minister has said “it is not immediately obvious” an investigation is needed into the allegations that Carrie Johnson held a blockade party that was not part of Sue Gray’s investigation.
Chris Philp, Minister of Technology and the Digital Economy, told Sky News’ Kay Burley that there has been an “incredibly complete set of investigations” over the past six months over parties who breached COVID regulations.
He said: “Having had two separate investigations, including the police, for many months it is not immediately obvious to me that we need further investigation when this has probably been, rightly, the most investigated set of incidents in recent years. time “.
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Philp added that he “had no internal knowledge” of the alleged incident, and unless there is “something really surprising that has not been known before,” he does not believe it should be investigated because both investigations were “incredibly exhaustive “.
Over the weekend, The Sunday Times revealed that Cabinet Secretary Simon Case had received unpublished messages suggesting that the Prime Minister’s wife was holding a meeting on the 11th floor, where the Johnsonians live, with friends for the 56th. her husband’s birthday on June 19, 2020.
It is understood Boris Johnson had also been on the floor. At that time, two or more people were denied access to the interior except for work reasons.
The event has not been previously released and was not part of Sue Gray’s published research.
Mr and Mrs Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak were fined for attending a previous meeting for the Prime Minister’s birthday in the cabinet hall.
Image: Boris and Carrie Johnson live at 11 Downing Street, but their office is at 10. Photo: Andrew Parsons / 10 Downing Street
Messages to Mr. Case allegedly show that a Downing Street assistant told Mrs. Johnson that her husband was going upstairs for her birthday, and she replied that she was already there with some friends.
Ms. Gray was informed of the messages in January by the assistant, but they did not want to forward them, but said they would show them in person to the investigation officials. They agreed to supply them to the Met police investigation.
The aide claims that Gray’s research team did not track the offer, and once the Met investigation was completed two weeks ago, they offered the messages to Gray’s team, but did not nothing happened.
But the Cabinet Office said the aide did not offer to take the messages to them, and although they were asked to provide all the relevant information to Gray’s investigation, they did not.
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The “absolutely confident” minister no one at number 10 pressured Sue Gray to change the report.
Ms. Gray’s team provided the email exchange with the assistant about the problem to Met detectives, the cabinet office said.
They added that the assistant only offered to share the texts when they were about to publish Sue Gray’s research last week, but he took into account the assistant’s comments, made after the Met report was concluded. , who were asked to organize the flat party.
Ms Johnson could now be summoned to appear before MPs in Parliament’s privileges committee, which is investigating whether the prime minister has knowingly tricked the Commons into repeatedly denying any parties, The Telegraph reports.
Another party on November 13, 2020 that involved Ms. Johnson on the 11th floor, where ABBA songs were allegedly played, was not included in Gray’s investigation and the Met did not fine anyone for it.