The first sheets of the report have been unveiled. And the conclusions should not help the affairs of Boris Johnson, already under fire from critics. There were “errors of leadership and judgment”, civil servant Sue Gray denounced Monday in a twelve-page internal report on the holiday scandal at the residence of the British Prime Minister during the confinement. The 60-year-old added: “Sometimes there seems to have been too little thought given to what was happening across the country, in terms of the relevance of some of these gatherings, the risks they posed to public health and how they might appear to the public.”
“There were failures of leadership and judgment by different parts of Downing Street and the Cabinet Office at different times. Some events should not have been allowed,” concluded Sue Gray, whose report has handed over to Prime Minister Boris Johnson in the morning. Senior civil servant Sue Gray’s report had been expected for several days, but a police investigation launched last week thwarted its publication, with police asking that her details not jeopardize the police investigation.” In her report, Sue Gray says she looked at sixteen separate rallies, some of which took place on the same day, and reveals that twelve of them are now under police investigation
Alcohol consumption that is “at no appropriate time”
In the context of the pandemic, while the government was asking citizens to accept significant restrictions on their lives, “certain behaviors surrounding these gatherings are difficult to justify”, is it mentioned in this investigation, some excerpts of which are published in the newspaper British The Guardian.“At least some of the gatherings in question represent a serious breach,” continues the investigation. In addition, Sue Gray calls for “important lessons” to be learned from these events that must be addressed immediately across government. “It doesn’t need to wait for the police investigations to be concluded,” she clarifies.
Beyond the health issue, the report also denounces the practice of these festivities in government offices: “Excessive alcohol consumption is not at any time appropriate in a professional workplace. Measures must be taken to ensure that each department has a clear and robust policy in place regarding the use of alcohol in the workplace.” Sue Gray also points to the misuse of the garden at No. 10 Downing Street, used for gatherings without permission. “Any official access to the space, including for meetings, must be by invitation only and in a controlled environment. Some staff wanted to raise concerns about behaviors they had witnessed at work, but sometimes felt unable to do so,” the report said.
Johnson: “I’m sorry”
In a statement to the Commons on Monday at 3.30 p.m., Boris Johnson said he was “sorry” in front of MPs. Many said they would consider the report’s findings before deciding whether to continue supporting him as prime minister. In his speech, Johnson said apologizing was not enough: “We have to learn.” The Conservative Prime Minister says no conclusions should be drawn from the fact that the police are investigating, but the Prime Minister intends to act to restore order to Downing Street. Among the changes announced: the creation of a Prime Minister’s Office, with a permanent secretary, reports The Guardian.
Separately, “Bojo” added that it will revise codes of conduct for officials and advisers. And he will “in due course” announce measures to strengthen the operation of 10 Downing Street. The head of government bowed his spine assuring that he understood “the anger of the population”. However, the Prime Minister had affirmed that he would not resign in the face of the scandal of these watered parties, yet denounced within his own party. To make people forget these setbacks, the 57-year-old leader launched a counter-offensive, announcing on Monday a “Brexit freedoms” bill which aims to facilitate the process already underway to modify or abandon and replace the laws inherited from the European Union.