Sue Gray parties report: Key points at-a-glance

2 years ago 36

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Initial findings from Sue Gray's investigation into lockdown socialising in government buildings have finally been published.

The civil servant's highly anticipated inquiry is seen as crucial to Boris Johnson's future, after weeks of reports of parties in No 10.

But details of certain gatherings have been left out, while police investigate whether Covid laws were broken.

Here is a summary of the findings so far.

Number of gatherings

Sue Gray says 16 events fell within her remit, taking place over a dozen dates between May 2020 and April 2021
All of the events took place in No 10 Downing Street or the Cabinet Office, apart from one in the Department for Education
Ms Gray says the Metropolitan Police are investigating 12 of these gatherings
But she adds the force considered the remaining four did not reach "the threshold for criminal investigation"
As a result, she says she is "extremely limited" in what she can say about the 12 events under police investigation

Ms Gray does not name any individuals or directly criticise any politicians
But she says there were "failures of leadership and judgment" by "different parts of No 10 and the Cabinet Office at different times"
She concludes some of the events "should not have been allowed to take place"
Other events, she adds, should not "have been allowed to develop as they did"
Every government department should have a "clear and robust policy" about drinking alcohol at work, Ms Gray argues