Sue Gray report ‘shows why Boris Johnson must resign’ – MP

Sue Gray’s preliminary report into a series of parties in Downing Street “shows why Boris Johnson must resign”, a Cumbrian MP says.

Civil servant Sue Gray’s redacted findings were published this afternoon, with the full report expected to be released once the Met Police complete their own investigations into 12 parties during coronavirus restrictions.

The report found:

Given the backdrop of the pandemic “some of the behaviour surrounding these gatherings is difficult to justify”;
“At least some of the gatherings” “represent a serious failure” to observe “high standards” expected in Government;
“Too little thought was given to what was happening across the country in considering the appropriateness of some of these gatherings”;
“Excessive consumption of alcohol” in a professional workplace is “not appropriate”. Every govenment department should have a “clear and robust policy in place covering the consumption of alcohol in the workplace”;
The Number 10 garden was used “sensibly” as an extension of the workplace but “was also used for gatherings without clear authorisation or oversight”;
Staff “wanted to” but “felt unable to raise concerns”;
Staff working in No 10 has steadily increased in recent years and the structures that support the smooth operation of Downing Street “haven’t evolved sufficiently to meet demands of this expansion” he leadership structures “fragmented & complicated” leading to blurred “accountability”

Commenting on the Sue Gray report into alleged gatherings in Downing Street during lockdown, Westmorland and Londsdale MP Tim Farron said: “The Sue Gray report just tells us what we’ve all known for some time now – that the people running the country in the middle of a pandemic were breaking lockdown rules while the British public stayed at home.

“People weren’t able to see their loved ones before they passed away, others were forced to spend Christmas alone, all while Boris Johnson was attending ‘bring your own booze’ parties.

“The fact that the Prime Minister and his team mocked the people who made such sacrifices is bad enough, but his consistent failure to be honest about these parties makes an awful situation even worse.

“If Boris Johnson will not do the decent thing and resign voluntarily, then Conservative MPs must show the backbone to remove him.”