Boris Johnson handed probe report after government ‘Partygate’ scandal
Breaking: Boris Johnson to make statement to MPs on “Partygate” inquiry
Boris Johnson will make a statement to MPs on the Sue Gray report at 3.30 p.m. (10:30 a.m. ET), a House of Commons spokesperson told CNN.
What you need to know about the Sue Gray report
From CNN’s Rob Picheta in London
Boris Johnson commissioned the internal inquiry into “Partygate” after numerous reports of social events, mostly held at a time when Britons were banned from meeting their friends and relatives indoors, sent his premiership into crisis and led to calls from all quarters that he should resign.
But the report itself was plunged into turmoil last week when the Metropolitan Police said it too would investigate the parties.
Johnson was accused of attending some of the events, including a birthday party for himself in June 2020, when people from different households were not allowed to gather indoors, and a “bring your own booze” celebration that the Prime Minister claimed to have thought was a work event.
One party was even held in Downing Street the night before Prince Philip’s funeral. Coronavirus restrictions in force at the time meant that the Queen had to sit by herself in the chapel at Windsor Castle during the service. Johnson has since apologized to the Queen for the gathering.
Confusion surrounds party inquiry “update”
The Cabinet Office said it has provided an “update” on its inquiry to Downing Street — but it remains unclear what form that update takes, and how detailed it is.
Sue Gray was expected to deliver a stripped-back report that withheld some of the most damning allegations of government parties, after the Metropolitan Police launched its own investigation and asked for Gray’s report to omit details on those it is probing.
Monday’s statement could mean that the redacted report is now with Prime Minister Boris Johnson — or it could imply that Gray has decided to only send an outline of her findings until she can publish the report in full.
Downing Street: “Nothing further to add” to Cabinet Office statement
From CNN’s Lauren Kent in London
Downing Street has “nothing further to add to the Cabinet Office statement,” a spokesperson told CNN on Monday.
The comment immediately followed a statement from a Cabinet Office spokesperson, saying, “We can confirm that Sue Gray has provided an update on her investigations to the Prime Minister.”
Breaking: Party probe report delivered to Boris Johnson
Britain’s embattled Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been given an update on investigations into parties held at the heart of his government while the United Kingdom was living under strict coronavirus restrictions — but it remains unclear when the full findings of the inquiry will be made public.
A Cabinet Office spokesperson said: “We can confirm that Sue Gray has provided an update on her investigations to the Prime Minister.”
Who is Sue Gray?
Sue Gray is a senior British civil servant. She conducted the inquiry at Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s request.
The probe has examined reports of various parties at Downing Street in 2020 and 2021 while the country was under strict Covid lockdown restrictions.
Gray, who is reported to be in her mid-60s, has led two previous reviews into the behavior of UK cabinet ministers, according to the PA media agency.
Source: https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/boris-johnson-party-report-latest-intl-gbr/index.html
