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The aftermath of Sue Gray’s report on Covid’s non-compliance with Downing Street rules continues, after the 60-page document revealed some very damaging details of the Partygate saga.
The top 10 leader was heavily criticized in the report, and the top official, Mrs Gray, said they had to “take responsibility” for the party culture on Downing Street, which occurred due to of a “leadership failure.”
The prime minister said he took “full responsibility” for the breach of the rules that took place under his guard, but defended himself by saying he was not present at some of the illegal rallies and resisted. to calls for resignation.
Boris Johnson also insisted that he has always been honest with the Commons with his denials of lawlessness, saying he believed at the time that the rules had always been followed in government. Johnson apologized, but tried to downplay the importance of Covid’s violations in government and his role in them.
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He told lawmakers: “Over a period of 600 days, meetings have been found in a total of eight days in breach of the rules.” Seeking to explain his role in attending some events, he said part of his leadership duty is to “recognize them and thank” staff when they leave government.
Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer told the Commons that the report “exposed rot” at number 10 and told Mr Johnson he had to “pack his bags”.
He said: “They think it’s the fault of others except them. They expect others to take the blame as they cling.
“It simply came to our notice then.
“The truth is, they’ve set the bar for his behavior below the belly of a snake, and now they expect the rest of us to congratulate him when he stumbles upon it.”
The report contained several photographs, including images of Mr Johnson and Mr Rishi Sunak and Cabinet Secretary Simon Case celebrating the Prime Minister’s birthday.
Mr. Johnson, his wife Carrie, and Chancellor Sunak were fined for attending the event, but Case was not.
What do our journalists think will be the impact of the Sue Gray report? ITV News UK editor Paul Brand and ITV News political editor Robert Peston give answers
Here are some interesting aspects of the report:
Prime Minister Martin Reynolds’ chief private secretary boasted that “it looks like we’re done with his” BYOB’s famous garden party in a WhatsApp message to a special adviser.
Reynolds became known as the person who invited about 100 employees to “make the most of the good weather” in Garden No. 10, and added: “Please join us from 6 p.m. 00 and bring your own drink! “
A Special Adviser No. 10 thanked Mr. Reynolds “provided the wine,” saying it was “a very kind thing and I know everyone really appreciated it.”
In another WhatsApp on a date unknown to a special advisor, Mr. Reynolds wrote, “Good luck: a not complete story, but better than them focused on our drinks (which looks like we got away with it).”
It seems that some officials of the number 10 were well aware that the party would break the rules.
Former head of communications Lee Cain warned Reynolds and Dominic Cummings that the party was “a bit of a communications risk” and urged that the event be canceled.
Another adviser said he sent a message to Mr Reynolds via WhatsApp, saying: “Drinking this eve is a lovely idea, so I shared it with the E&V team that is in the office.
“Just to indicate that the press conference is likely to end at this time, so it’s useful if people can keep that in mind when the speakers and cameras go off, not walking around shaking bottles of wine, and so on.”
Mr Reynolds replied: “I will do my best!”, According to the report.
The Prime Minister, his wife, and Mr. Reynolds were photographed chatting in Garden Number 10, at an event on May 15, 2020, which was first reported by the Guardian.
According to Mrs. Gray’s report, Mr. Johnson brought the cheese and wine shown at the garden meeting from his floor.
He wrote that the prime minister and advisers had a long meeting in his office after a press conference before moving to the garden.
“The Prime Minister brought cheese and wine from his flat. The outside of the meeting lasted between 40 minutes and an hour and was briefly joined by the Prime Minister’s wife, during which time the photograph was taken. Martin Reynolds later returned to the office to continue working, “he wrote.
“The Prime Minister remained in the garden until around 7.20pm. There is a group of more than four individuals sitting at a table on the terrace. These individuals could not be identified, but there is no reason to suggest that it’s about something other than another business meeting. ”
Some of the confinement parties lasted until 4:20 p.m., according to the report. Two outing events took place on April 16, 2021, on the eve of the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh.
The two groups eventually “joined” in the Downing Street Garden. Shortly before 9.30pm, there were more than 20 people in the garden. Mrs Gray found a child’s swing and slide to be damaged by people “leaning on it and playing with it”.
Entry records show that some people left number 10 around 9.30pm, and “the custodian encouraged them to use the later exit number 10.”
But some stayed and continued drinking “until the first hour.”
Some left after midnight, while others stayed between 1.45 and 2.45. Two staff members stayed later, one at 3:11 a.m. and the last at 4:20 p.m.
The report said the public would be “dismayed” by a number of breaches of coronavirus standards at No. 10 and Westminster.
“The events I investigated were attended by government leaders. Many of these events should not have been missed,” he said.
He condemned the wider culture that had been allowed to develop under the leadership of Mr. Johnson.
He said some of the younger officials who attended the parties “believed that their participation in some of these events was allowed given the assistance of senior leaders.”
“The center’s top leadership, both political and official, must be responsible for this culture,” Ms. Gray said.
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There was outrage this week when it was confirmed that Mr. Johnson had met with Ms. Gray before publishing her report, and the Times reported that she had been asked not to publish her report.
The number 10 denied it when reporters asked in a briefing on Tuesday, but Johnson did not when asked by a Conservative MP.
Aaron Bell asked, “I was very surprised to read in the Times that you may have asked Sue Gray not to publish any reports. Is there anything true in this suggestion?” Johnson replied, “What Sue Gray has posted is entirely for Sue Gray. It’s a completely independent report.”
On June 18, 2020, a rally at No. 10 took place to mark the departure of an official, who appears to have fallen into chaos.
Helen MacNamara, then undersecretary of the Cabinet, attended for part of the evening and offered a karaoke machine for the event.
“The event lasted a few hours,” Ms Gray said, adding: “There was excessive alcohol consumption by some people.
“One person was ill. There was a small altercation between two other individuals.”
Ms Gray said she had heard of multiple examples of “unacceptable” treatment by security and cleaning staff during her Partygate investigation.
She wrote: “I found that some staff members had witnessed or been subjected to work-related behaviors that concerned them, but that they sometimes felt unable to pose properly.
“I was told multiple examples of disrespect and mistreatment of security and cleaning staff. That was unacceptable.”
Speaking to the Commons, Mr Johnson apologized for his horrific treatment, saying he was “surprised and disappointed” to learn of it.
Issue 10 has posted a photo of Boris Johnson reading Sue Gray’s report. Credit: Number 10 / Flickr
Sue Gray did not attend a meeting on Downing Street during which Abba’s songs could be heard from Mr. Johnson’s apartment, as it would not have been “appropriate” after police concluded their investigation.
The November 13, 2020 event came after two of the prime minister’s top advisers, Dominic Cummings and Lee Cain, left the government.
The complaints of the meeting came first from Mr. Cummings, who also claimed that there were photographs of the event and that Abba’s songs, including The Winner Takes It All, could be heard by other people in the building.
In the report, Ms. Gray states that a “departure and drinks speech” was held later that day at No. 10 to mark Mr. Cain’s departure.
Photographs of the November 13 talk show, which were first leaked to ITV News, are also in the report. Credit: Sue Gray report
This event was not planned in advance, Ms. Gray, but it did take place at the same time as “Wine Time Friday” would normally take place.
The Prime Minister attended on his way to his Downing Street flat, after leaving his office at 7.17pm.
The Conservative leader made an exit speech for Mr. Cain and the attendees, including Mr. Johnson, they drank alcohol.
The Prime Minister is in hot water after photos of this meeting were published by ITV News, and critics say he proves he lied in Parliament when he denied the Commons last year that the party should take place.
December 8, 2021: Boris Johnson denies that the November 13 party took place:
He was specifically asked about the December 8 event, telling Labor MP Catherine West in the House that “no” there had been no meeting on that date …