Well, I hope you, as I do, all consider the matter closed. Now move along.
like what Boris was aware of and what he was present at
That’s what I also came to post… (echo chamber)… not a single reference to what the PM knew or did, and whether that contradicts what he has said he knew or did.
Wow it's taken over a week to put together a couple of pages saying 'there were parties, they shouldn't have happened, there are lessons to be learned'. Incredible.
A crucial issue with her terms of reference is that she isnt investigating the party in Boris Johnson's flat on his birthday, just the one in the cabinet room... seems like that would have been the obvious one that would have caused the PM real issues.
Agree that the lack of detail is annoying but not surprising
No, what's she's said there in Bruneep's clip is that its not possible e.g she's been prevented. Thats tells you what we all know;
Cover up.
For anyone who read the actual report via the Link above to the HM gov website, don't forget to select the correct answer in response to the invitation at the bottom of the page:
Is this page Useful? Yes/No
I think there is enough there to cause him more problems (failure of leadership, things happening that shouldn't have been allowed, other things escalating beyond what was reasonable). Also comparing their claim to be so hard-working and put upon into context with other parts of the country (eg health workers) is a good thing
12 of 16 parties being investigated to police is not nothing, especially as one is in Johnson's golden wallpapered flat.
Im sure he will spin it as lesson learned, lets move on
but its worded to show that Gray has been neutered by the Met
Month by month, the Sue Gray Report will grow into a fascinating encyclopaedia of government law-breaking for you and all your family. This attractive binder free with Issue One now …order yours today
Usually, if a civil case or claim or some other non-criminal enquiry (eg. Coroner’s inquest) is stayed until the conclusion of a criminal case, it’s because the stakes are highest in the latter. This is the opposite really - I don’t care if he gets a £100 ticket or a £10k fine, he’ll get someone else to pay it anyway - I care that that he gets dealt with by either Parliament, the Government or the party. Sue Grey should just say bollocks to the police investigation and publish it.
I think the bits I have seen are really damning and damaging. Its not a fatal blow but its another twist of the knife. He will find this hard to ride out given this is the least damning bit!
Of course Johnson will try to put a line under it but because there is more to come its impossible for him to do so
Wild prediction about the Met findings, based on what's in this "update": Every single "event" will be disconnected from the PM.... they won't say he "wasn't responsible"... but they will say that it's either "unclear" who was responsible (there's so many of them, and they're all terribly busy) or they'll pin the blame on a scapegoat and ignore whether they were acting for the PM. Even if there is eventually a full report from Gray (I doubt there will be), it will be about staff and culture, not the PM himself.
Good work in tough circumstances - Sue must be in line for a gong.
Sue is keeping the full unredacted report away from government!
https://twitter.com/AdamWagner1/status/1488160801055776772
Having now read the full update and other bits I am astonished how damning it is. Remember all MPs are versed in civil service speak and there is no doubt at all its really bad news for Johnson - of course he will be desperately trying to spin it but there is no wriggle room at all. the buck stops with Johnson.
Johnson and friends will now step up the trotting out of "Getting on with more important things and success of vaccine/booster rollout.." party line. I have been impressed how every Tory on TV over the weekend has stuck to the script.
its Every Little Helpsist.
Did anyone else read that in the style of Gollum ?
Sue is keeping the full unredacted report away from government!
It doesnt say that. It says all the supporting information is being kept back which would tend to expect since "admin assistant x" would have probably wanted some confidence that they wouldnt be named pointing out that "department head y" had been happily breaking the laws.
Yeah agreed TJagain, this essentially says the police are investigating multiple times the PM broke his own laws
Agreed TJ, given the office that has published this, and given the lack of detail, the wording is brilliantly damning.
"The whole of the country rose to the challenge. Ministers, special advisers and the Civil Service, of which I am proud to be a part, were a key and dedicated part of that national effort.
"However, as I have noted, a number of these gatherings should not have been allowed to take place or to develop in the way that they did.
"There is significant learning to be drawn from these events which must be addressed immediately across government.
"This does not need to wait for the police investigations to be concluded."
That last line is perfection. Ok, Boris will ignore it but she's immediately taking away the standard "oh we'll just have to wait for the investigation" crap that we all know is coming
I think it's more damming than most people knee-jerk reaction would lead us to believe. Without giving specifics, She's managed to say there have been a failure of leadership that's hard to justify.
The next few hours are going to be pretty interesting, let's not forget, Johnson managed to get a VONC decision delayed until today, that's not the same as asking them to forget about it and move on if the Gray report isn't conclusively damming. He's dropped the EU freedom bill to try to appease the right of the party, if he doesn't resign during his address in 25 mins (doesn't seem likely) he's got a final chance to sell himself to his party again, or the VONC letters might be in before nightfall.
There's no real bad outcome for non-Tory voters, if he goes, then it's a major political win for Labour and others, a new PM with 2 years to fight a GE, which will start ramping up in the next year or two, if he stays, it's a massive stick to beat him with, over and over again.
I fancy the rest of the report will only see the light of day if it's leaked. Dick has already said words to the effect of "high profile cases like this aren't the work of a few months", it'll probally be concluded, oh I don't know, about the 3rd of May 2024...
Tory MPs will stay loyal
At least there is reference to booze at work meetings needing review. What about the cheese ?
She has taken away his best defense lines. I especially like the way she totally removed the idea that the folk in downing street where acting under huge pressure a she compares it to others
She makes it clear that the failures go all the way to the top
She damns them for drinking
She kills the idea all staff thought it OK
Boris on the way to Parliament - let's see if he turns up at 3:30pm
Next he'll be asking Putin to speed up invading Ukraine as a diversion
it’s a massive stick to beat him with, over and over again.
Let's see: There were no parties the rules were followed.
I'm furious to discover that there were parties,
I was at a party but I didn't know it was a party,
No one told me they were against my own rules.
The cops are investigating actual parties that I actually went to in my own flat...
I think there's plenty to be going on with, Good job he feels no shame, eh?
When Johnson gets through this... do we stop pointing at Russian politics with incredulity?
He's not going. Standby for some scapegoats...
He's blaming the Civil Service.
Tosser.
For a brief moment I thought he was about to do something vaguely honourable.
Weasel words.
"I get it, and I will fix it"... and... off we go with Brexit... and vaccines...
Utterly contemptible
Bluff and more bluff. Liar Liar tongue on fire !
Standby for some scapegoats…
That’s what it sounds like.
The barefaced cheek to try to sound triumphant about it.
Absolutely no shame.
Utter ****
Good god look at the state of that front bench. Fire the lot of them into the sun.
starmer absolutely trashing Johnson
How do you word a letter to your MP asking them if they will give a VONC?
Given our brown nosing incumbent it's a waste of time and he will trot out what he's told to but I think it's only right that his constituents tell him how they feel.
An absolute demolition from Starmer here
Contrast with Starmer's words. Blimey!
I feel this will see Conservative MPs falling into line.
But this PM has no shame. Unfit for the position. His party will lose seats thanks to backing him on this.
Excellent work by Sir Kier.
