Initial Sue Gray findings indicate 'failures of leadership' over Downing Street parties as Prime Minister Boris Johnson again says 'sorry' in a statement to the House of Commons and MP Ian Blackford gets thrown out in a short-tempered exchange
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Boris Johnson has again said he is “sorry” after portions of the Sue Gray report into multiple Downing Street parties saw the senior civil servant find “failures of leadership and judgment by different parts of No 10 and the Cabinet Office.”
In a heated session in the Commons, Ross, Skye and Lochaber MP Ian Blackford was ordered out over a reluctance to withdraw comments that the PM had “willfully misled” the house.
Mr Blackford made a number of claims about the Prime Minister including that he was damaging trust in the country’s political institutions and that his integrity was in the “ditch.”
Despite the intervention of the Metropolitan Police calling for sections of the report that the force was investigating to be held back a not insignificant volume of material has been released.
Among the chief allegations made by Ms Gray is that:
- some behaviour surrounding the gatherings is "difficult to justify"
- some gatherings represent a serious failure to observe not just the high standards expected in government but also those "expected of the entire British population at the time"
- there was "too little thought given to what was happening across the country in considering the appropriateness of some of these gatherings"
- there were "failures of leadership and judgment by different parts of No 10 and the Cabinet Office"
Ms Gray said: “Against the backdrop of the pandemic, when the Government was asking citizens to accept far-reaching restrictions on their lives, some of the behaviour surrounding these gatherings is difficult to justify.
“At least some of the gatherings in question represent a serious failure to observe not just the high standards expected of those working at the heart of Government but also of the standards expected of the entire British population at the time.
“At times it seems there was too little thought given to what was happening across the country in considering the appropriateness of some of these gatherings, the risks they presented to public health and how they might appear to the public.
“There were failures of leadership and judgment by different parts of No 10 and the Cabinet Office at different times. Some of the events should not have been allowed to take place. Other events should not have been allowed to develop as they did.”
Speaking afterwards Mr Blackford said: "Boris Johnson's position is now completely untenable. The Prime Minister is guilty of breaking lockdown rules and misleading parliament. He must resign - or be removed from office.
"The highly critical Sue Gray report is utterly damning. It has provided the final nail in the coffin against Boris Johnson's false claims that he would be exonerated. Instead, it has provided conclusive evidence that rule-breaking events did happen and should never have taken place.
"It is clear the Prime Minister knew about events, attended them - and was lying to Parliament when he claimed otherwise.
"Misleading Parliament is a resignation matter in itself - but just as important is the fact that the Prime Minister and his Downing Street team were breaking the rules that they had imposed.
"There cannot be one rule for Boris Johnson and another for the rest of us. If the Prime Minister won't do the honourable thing and resign, he must be forced out of office by his own MPs.
"Tory MPs must now do their duty and remove him without further delay - or they will destroy any remaining public trust in the Tory government."
Responding to the 12 page report prior to Mr Johnson’s statement to the house, Far North MP Jamie Stone said: “Sue Gray’s report has found a deep rot at the heart of our government.
“From repeated failures of leadership to potential criminal conduct, Boris Johnson has irreparably sullied the Office of Prime Minister. For the good of the country, he must resign.”
While Inverness MP Drew Hendry said: “It is clear from the response offered by Boris Johnson today that he will be expecting his staff to continue to carry the can for his failings and expects to carry on regardless.
"My constituents are rightly outraged that he thinks he can remain in his job despite breaking lockdown rules and misleading parliament. It is high time the tory backbenchers grow a backbone and remove him – he is not fit to hold the office of Prime Minister.”
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