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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Politics
Pippa Crerar & Lizzy Buchan

Sue Gray's Partygate report arrives in No10 as Boris Johnson faces D-day over 'lies'

Top civil servant Sue Gray has sent her long-awaited report into the Downing Street Partygate saga to No10.

Hard copies arrived in the building this morning and it is expected to be published later today - followed by statements to Parliament and the nation by Boris Johnson.

It's thought the report was only available in one room. It comes after Boris Johnson was accused of lying to Parliament after bombshell pictures emerged of him raising a glass of fizz at an event he denied took place.

Ms Gray was tasked with investigating a flurry of reports of Covid lawbreaking at the heart of Government after the Mirror first reported that lockdown-breaking parties had taken place.

The senior official was brought in to lead the probe after civil service boss Simon Case was forced to step aside because a party was held in his own office.

Her report was originally due in January but its publication was put on ice after the Metropolitan Police dramatically decided to investigate.

Scotland Yard handed out 126 fines for lawbreaking gatherings in Downing Street and Whitehall on eight dates in 2020 and 2021.

Top civil servant Sue Gray was tasked with investigating Partygate (Marcin Nowak/LNP)

Mr Johnson received fixed penalty notice for attending a surprise gathering for his birthday in June 2020 in the Cabinet Room in Downing Street. Chancellor Rishi Sunak and his wife Carrie were also fined.

But the force are facing questions about why Mr Johnson didn't receive further penalties, as pictures emerged of the PM raising a toast at a leaving do on November 13 2020.

It is understood that fines were issued for the gathering, which was a leaving bash for spin chief Lee Cain, but the Met refused to confirm which events had resulted in penalties.

The force also probed a gathering in the Prime Minister's flat on that date, where aides reportedly blasted out Abba's "The Winner Takes it All" to celebrate the departure of combative No10 adviser Dominic Cummings.

Ms Gray investigated events on 12 dates, including some that were not included in Scotland Yard's inquiry.

Events with an asterisk (*) were not probed by police.

  • 15 May 2020 - a gathering in the Downing Street garden where staff were pictured with cheese and wine *
  • 20 May 2020 - a BYOB bash in the Downing Street garden
  • 18 June 2020 - a karaoke leaving do in the Cabinet Office to mark the departure of No10 official Hannah Young
  • 19 June 2020 - a surprise birthday event for Boris Johnson in the Cabinet room in No10
  • 13 November 2020 - 'Abba party' in the PM's No11 flat. Also a leaving do for No10 comms chief Lee Cain
  • 27 November 2020 - a leaving do in Downing Street for special adviser Cleo Watson *
  • 10 December 2020 - a gathering in the Department for Education ahead of the Christmas holiday *
  • 15 December 2020 - a No10 online Christmas quiz *
  • 17 December 2020 - an online Christmas quiz for the Cabinet Secretary’s private office. Also a leaving do in the Cabinet Office for Kate Josephs, a former director general of the Covid taskforce. Also a No10 leaving do for defence aide Captain Steve Higham
  • 18 December 2020 - No10 Christmas party
  • 14 January 2021 - a prosecco-fueled leaving do two No10 private secretaries
  • 16 April 2021 - Two leaving dos for No10 comms chief James Slack and a photographer in No10 on the eve of Prince Philip's funeral

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