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Downing Street parties: Confusion over Sue Gray report after Met police statement
The Met said on Friday it had asked for “minimal reference” in the report to events they are investigating to avoid prejudicing its inquiries.
Many in the Cabinet Office, where Ms Gray is based were taken by surprise by the Met’s statement, sources say.
The report was due to be sent to Downing Street this week.
In a statement on Friday 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.”
It is 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.
Met Commissioner Cressida Dick announced on Tuesday the force had launched its own inquiry, after being handed information by Ms Gray.
It has not specified how many of the gatherings covered in Ms Gray’s inquiry it has decided to investigate.
There have been media reports of 17 gatherings 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.
Mr Johnson’s spokesman has said the PM did not believe he had broken Covid laws.
We had expected the Sue Gray report to be published earlier this week.
The Met announcing its own investigation threw a spanner in the works, which is still being dealt with.
For the past few days, we’ve known Ms Gray was talking to the Met and government lawyers about what could and couldn’t be published.
Ms Gray wanted to send a copy of the report to No 10 which could be published in full. That was the intention this morning.
But the police statement appears to have thrown the process into chaos. Many in the cabinet office did not know it was coming – and are working out the implications.
On Thursday, Mr Johnson insisted Ms Gray’s report would be published “in full” – although he did not say when it was expected to be published.
After the Met’s statement, shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves said Ms Gray’s report “needs to be published in full, as the prime minister has said it will be”.
Some Conservative MPs have demanded Mr Johnson resign, after weeks of reports of allegedly rule-breaking events in No 10 during lockdown.
But many others say they are waiting for the Gray report before deciding whether to submit letters of no confidence in him.
At least 54 Tory MPs must write to Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee, to set up a vote on the prime minister’s future.
