By When will the Sue Gray report into No 10 parties be published?
Confusion is growing over when Sue Gray’s report into No 10 lockdown parties will be published after the Metropolitan Police issued a statement on their own investigation.
The Met said it had asked for “minimal reference” in the report to events they are investigating to avoid prejudicing its inquiries.
The report was due to be sent to Downing Street this week but it’s now unclear what the police investigation means for the timing of the report, how much detail will be included or whether it will now be published at all.
In a statement this morning, the Met said: “For the events the Met is investigating, we asked for minimal reference to be made in the Cabinet Office report.
“The Met did not ask for any limitations on other events in the report, or for the report to be delayed, but we have had ongoing contact with the Cabinet Office, including on the content of the report, to avoid any prejudice to our investigation.”
Met Commissioner Cressida Dick announced on Tuesday the force had launched its own inquiry into the events.
It has not specified how many of the gatherings covered in Ms Gray’s inquiry but 17 gatherings have been reported to have taken place in government buildings while Covid restrictions were in place.
It has been confirmed that the events she is looking into include a “bring your own booze” drinks event in the No 10 garden in May 2020 attended by Boris Johnson, and a staff gathering to celebrate the PM’s birthday in June 2020.
On Thursday, Mr Johnson insisted Ms Gray’s report would be published “in full” but he did not say when it was expected to be published.
Labour is demanding that Ms Gray’s entire report, including the names of those attending and organising Downing Street gatherings, be released.
Now, the public and the government must both sit and wait until more information on the publication date is revealed.
Contact Gi National
Email us: news@gi-media.co.uk
