Downing Street parties: Sue Gray not expected to wait for police inquiryon January 28, 2022 at 8:36 pm

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The civil servant’s report is expected to go to the PM shortly, however no exact timescale has been given

Downing Street

Image source, EPA

Sue Gray is expected to deliver her report on No 10 parties to the PM without waiting for the police inquiry to conclude, the BBC has been told.

The senior civil servant is expected to hand her report to the prime minister shortly, however no exact timescale has been given.

It comes after days of confusion over when the report would be published.

The Met Police has denied its investigation is to blame for any delay.

The police had asked for minimal references to be made to the events they are investigating, meaning the report Ms Gray releases before the police probe is complete may need to contain some redactions, or be changed.

Downing Street has not yet received the report.

Earlier today, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer called for the report to be published in full and the investigations to be wrapped up as soon as possible.

The SNP and Liberal Democrats are claiming the delay in publication is a “stitch-up” aimed at keeping Boris Johnson in power.

The report is seen as key to Mr Johnson’s political future with many of its own Conservative MPs saying they will wait for its publication before deciding whether to take action against the prime minister.

Mr Johnson has been under pressure following a string of allegations about events held in Downing Street and other government premises during coronavirus restrictions.

On Tuesday, Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick announced that the force were investigating the gatherings.

In a statement released on Friday, the Met Police clarified they expect to approach individuals “identified as having potentially breached” regulations in writing.

Commander Catherine Roper, who leads the Met’s Central Specialist Crime Command said “the offences under investigation, where proven, would normally result in the issuing of a fixed penalty notice” and said the Met’s actions would be “proportionate to the nature of these offences”.

She reiterated that “the Met has asked for minimal reference to be made in the Cabinet Office report to relevant events. This will only be necessary until these matters are concluded”.

Material has been received from the Cabinet Office today by the Met, which it requested to “support its investigation into potential breaches of Covid-19 regulations at a number of events in Downing St and Whitehall”.

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