Long-awaited ‘partygate’ report handed to UK PM

With the man who replaced her floundering and under pressure to resign, former British PM Theresa May delivered one more body blow.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Picture: Matt Dunham / POOL / AFP

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is under fire from all sides after his government was criticised for “failures of leadership and judgment” in allowing lockdown-breaching parties to happen at his offices.

Senior civil servant Sue Gray was tasked with investigating a series of boozy get-togethers at 10 Downing Street, held while the government told the public to remain socially distanced.

Ms Gray condemned some of the behaviour as being “difficult to justify”, blaming the parties on a “failure of leadership” in Downing Street and the civil service.

In a statement to the House of Commons following the report’s publication, Mr Johnson said he wanted “to say sorry”.

“I want to say sorry. I get it and I will fix it,” he said.

“Sorry for the things we simply did not get right and sorry for the way that this matter has been handled.”

He vowed “to get on with the job” despite widespread political and public anger and calls for him to quit or be forced out.

London’s Metropolitan Police announced last week detectives had begun their own probe into the events.

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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Picture: Matt Dunham / POOL / AFP

The Met requested that Ms Gray not publish the report in full, so as not to prejudice its investigations, giving Mr Johnson breathing space while detectives conduct inquiries.

The Cabinet Office issued a carefully-worded statement indicating Gray had submitted a redacted version of her report to Downing Street.

“We can confirm that Sue Gray has provided an update on her investigations to the prime minister,” it read.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman confirmed Downing Street received the report on Monday morning, adding: “We will publish it as received.”

Mr Johnson’s opponents have accused him of misleading parliament by insisting the events at Downing Street were within the rules at the time and were work-related.

Ministers found to have done so are normally under pressure to resign but on a visit on Monday, Mr Johnson told reporters: “I stick absolutely to what I’ve said in the past.”

Johnson slammed by political opponents ... and allies

Former prime minister Theresa May, a member of Mr Johnson’s own party, roasted her successor in the House of Commons off the back of his apology.

“The Covid regulations impose significant restrictions on the freedoms of members of the public,” Ms May said.

“They had a right to expect their Prime Minister to have read the rules, to understand the meaning of the rules and indeed those around him to have done so too and to set an example in following those rules.

Former Prime Minister Theresa May slammed Mr Johnson’s actions in the House of Commons. Picture: AFP Photo/PRU

“What the Gray report does show, is that Number 10 Downing Street was not observing the regulations they had imposed on members of the public.

“So either my right honourable friend had not read the rules or didn’t understand what they meant and others around him, or they didn’t think the rules applied to Number 10. Which was it?”

“That is not what the Gray report says,” Mr Johnson protested.

“I suggest (Ms May) wait to see the conclusion of the inquiry.”

"What the Gray report does show, is that Number 10 Downing Street was not observing the regulations they had imposed on members of the public" - former PM Theresa May.

PM Boris Johnson: "That is not what the Gray report says."

Live: https://t.co/waBnDcRsuMpic.twitter.com/2L2ipnH11P

— Sky News (@SkyNews) January 31, 2022

Brutal question for Boris Johnson from former PM Theresa May who says Gray update shows No 10 had either not read the rules they set, or they didn’t think they applied to them. “Which was it?”

— Pippa Crerar (@PippaCrerar) January 31, 2022

💣Theresa May just dropped a bomb.

"Either he had not read the rules, or understood the rules, or thought they didn't apply to him... which was it?"

— Paul Brand (@PaulBrandITV) January 31, 2022

Theresa May may just have finished Boris off. That was savage…. and coming from a former Tory PM in Parliament, devastating. 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) January 31, 2022

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.

— Ian Blackford (@Ianblackford_MP) January 31, 2022

I've spoken to constituents, people on the street, people on trains, primary school children, care home residents and not a single person needs Sue Gray to tell them what to think about Boris Johnson.

He made the rules, he broke the rules, he is unfit for office.

— Angela Rayner (@AngelaRayner) January 31, 2022

Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, accused Mr Johnson of blaming everyone else but himself for the gatherings.

He again called on the Prime Minister to quit, but said that he expected no such thing would happen.

“Of course he won’t [resign], because he is a man without shame,” Mr Starmer said.

“And just as he’s done throughout his life, he’s damaged everyone and everything around him.”

Room for manoeuvre

Weeks of revelations in the British media since December have seen leaked photographs and emails indicating repeated breaches of social distancing rules the government set.

They include a drinks party in May 2020 in the Downing Street garden, as well as Christmas celebrations, and also a boozy get-together before Prince Philip’s funeral in April.

Details of that event, at which staff reportedly brought a suitcase-full of alcohol and danced until the small hours, caused outrage given the socially distanced memorial.

An enduring image of the funeral was Queen Elizabeth II, sat alone in the chapel at Windsor Castle, mourning her husband of 73 years.

Downing Street later apologised to the monarch.

The parties have stirred anger in the UK. Picture: Tolga Akmen / AFP

The revelations have posed the greatest threat to Johnson’s position since he became prime minister in 2019 on a wave of support for his populist Brexit agenda.

But the report’s delay has given him room for manoeuvre.

A handful of his own Conservative party MPs are on record as saying they had no confidence in his leadership. More have been expected to join them.

Fifty-four Tory MPs are required to force a no-confidence vote but many have been keeping their counsel until the Gray report comes out.

With it now not the full version, and the police inquiry potentially lasting months, that has allowed Johnson to regroup his supporters and get back on the front foot.

In recent days he has talked tough against Russia in the simmering tensions with Ukraine, and is keen to push on with his post-Brexit agenda addressing economic inequality.