Sue Gray report latest: Boris Johnson apologises in Commons, as police obtain
Boris Johnson apologises in Commons after party probe report
Sue Gray’s heavily-censored report into the partygate scandal has blasted “failures of leadership and judgment” in 10 Downing Street and the Cabinet Office.
The long-awaited report was published by Downing Street this afternoon after being delivered to Boris Johnson.
The prime minister made a statement on the report in the House of Commons and was rebuked by MPs on all sides. He held a meeting with Conservative MPs this evening to address the party investigations.
Ms Gray’s report was stripped of all but “minimal” references to alleged breaches of Covid regulations in No 10 and Whitehall departments due to a request from the Metropolitan Police that she avoid prejudicing its own probe.
The report revealed that police are probing 12 events, including a birthday celebration for Mr Johnson and an alleged party inside his private flat.
Scotland Yard said police investigating the party claims have been given more than 300 photos and 500 pages of information.
Commander Catherine Roper said police were reviewing a huge amount of written evidence in order to confirm which politicians and civil servants will need to be contacted.
Nobody called for Boris Johnson to resign at meeting, says Tory MP
Speaking after the meeting of the Conservative parliamentary party, Paul Bristow, Tory MP for Peterborough, said it had been a “difficult day’’ but said there was support for Boris Johnson.
Mr Bristow said he left the meeting “absolutely pumped’’ and added that nobody in the meeting had called for Mr Johnson to go.
The prime minister held a meeting with Tory MPs after publishing the limited version of Sue Gray’s report into Downing Street parties.
Liam James31 January 2022 19:51
Tory MPs ‘nod and smile’ at meeting with Boris Johnson
Now hearing from Tory MPs coming out of a meeting with Boris Johnson.
Jacob Rees-Mogg, leader of the Commons, said the “mood was positive” among those present.
He said: “We’ve got to remember how well the prime minister has done in the general run of being prime minister.”
One Tory MP said colleagues were “nodding and smiling” as Mr Johnson addressed the room.
They appeared exasperated though that while “a hundred thousand Russians” were stationed on the Ukrainian border MPs were “talking about cake”.
Liam James31 January 2022 19:25
Insight into Boris Johnson’s meeting with MPs from Christopher Chope at The Daily Telegraph:
Liam James31 January 2022 19:17
Jeremy Hunt says mandatory NHS vaccine U-turn ‘completely wrong’
Former health secretary Jeremy Hunt – a potential “stalking horse” leadership candidate in the view of some with close knowledge of the parliamentary Tory party – has criticised the government decision to U-turn on mandatory vaccines for NHS staff.
His intervention comes at an extremely sensitive time for Boris Johnson – who defeated Mr Hunt in the last Tory leadership race – after he apologised to MPs today over the findings of Sue Gray’s report.
Liam James31 January 2022 19:10
Nadine Dorries tries to move on from Sue Gray report
Nadine Dorries has joined cabinet colleagues in trying to move the conversation on from the Sue Gray report.
Michael Gove and Oliver Dowden did the same earlier.
Ms Dorries earlier suggested the prime minister would publish the full report – not redacted like today – when the police investigation is complete. Mr Johnson himself did not answer questions on whether he would.
Liam James31 January 2022 18:57
Boris Johnson to address Tory MPs over Sue Gray report
Boris Johnson has arrived to address his parliamentary party on the partygate investigations.
The Prime Minister arrived at the meeting to muted cheers, flanked by Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab.
Emily Atkinson31 January 2022 18:43
Ian Blackford MP: ‘Truth and decency must always remain at heart of our politics’
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford said “truth and decency must always remain at heart of our politics“ after he was ordered to leave the House of Commons for accusing Boris Johnson of having “wilfully misled” MPs.
Emily Atkinson31 January 2022 18:41
Boris Johnson makes incorrect claim on government cutting crime during parliament speech on Sue Gray police report
The prime minister made the claim while responding to Sue Gray’s report on Downing Street parliament in the House of Commons on Monday.
Mr Johnson appeared to be referring to statistics from the Crime Survey of England and Wales, which uses people’s reported experiences of crime rather than those recorded by police.
In the year to September, compared with the year to September 2019, the survey showed a 14 per cent increase in total crime. The figures were only down by 14 per cent if surging fraud and computer misuse are excluded from the total.
Our home affairs editor…
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