Sue Gray partygate report: The key findings at a glance

2 years ago 25

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A senior civil servant's highly anticipated report into lockdown gatherings held in and around Downing Street has been published in full.

Sue Gray investigated 16 events at which the police found multiple breaches of Covid-19 rules during the pandemic.

Her report criticises the culture and leadership in Downing Street.

The report includes photos of gatherings and the names of some who attended.

Here we look at some of the key details of the 48-page report in brief:

What gatherings were investigated?

The 16 events took place over a dozen dates between May 2020 and April 2021, when Covid restrictions were in force
They were held in 10 Downing Street or the Cabinet Office, apart from one in the Department for Education
Of these events, 12 were investigated by the Metropolitan Police, who issued 126 fines to 83 people, including the prime minister
Mr Johnson, his wife Carrie Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak were all fined for attending a birthday party for the PM in the Cabinet Room on 19 June 2020
Other events investigated by Ms Gray included the infamous bring-your-own-booze party in the Downing Street garden, attended by the PM on 20 May 2020
She also looked into a leaving do for Mr Johnson's former communications chief Lee Cain and a gathering in the No 10 flat, both on 13 November 2020
The last gatherings on the list were two parties held by Downing Street staff at No 10, the night before Prince Philip's funeral on 16 April 2021

What are the key findings from the events?

For each event, Ms Gray summarises the Covid regulations that applied at the time and describes what happened and who attended. Here's what she wrote about some of the gatherings:

15 May 2020: A gathering in the Downing Street garden

The report says people were gathered for "separate meetings" in the No 10 garden, where alcohol was drunk
The prime minister brought cheese and wine from his flat for an outdoor meeting, which lasted for 40 minutes to an hour
Ms Gray says "there is no reason to suggest that this was anything other than a further work meeting"
Gatherings of more than two people in public were banned unless they were "essential for work purposes"

20 May 2020: A gathering in the Downing Street garden

The investigation was told "the event was for the purposes of boosting staff morale following a challenging period"
The event was planned in advance by officials, and concerns were expressed about whether it was appropriate
The report includes an email invitation sent to staff by the PM's principal private secretary Martin Reynolds, which reads: "Please join us from 6pm and bring your own booze"
Mr Johnson attended at about 18.00 for about 30 minutes to thank staff before returning to his office for a meeting
Gatherings of more than two people in public were banned unless they were "essential for work purposes"

19 June 2020: A gathering in the Cabinet Room for the PM's birthday

A number of people gathered in the Cabinet Room for a pre-planned event with food, alcohol and soft drinks
Cleo Watson, a No 10 special adviser, informed the investigation that she had been asked to organise the event
The prime minister and the chancellor had no advance knowledge of the event, which lasted about 30 minutes
Gatherings of two or more people indoors and more than six outdoors were prohibited

13 November 2020: A gathering in Downing Street to mark the departure of a special adviser

Staff gathered in the press office area of No 10 to mark the departure of Lee Cain, the PM's then communications chief
It was not planned and occurred at about the time that "Wine Time Friday" would normally be taking place
The prime minister attended on his way to his Downing Street flat, gave a speech and had a drink
After 18:00, a meeting was held in the PM's flat to discuss the handling of Mr Cain's departure and that of former No 10 adviser Dominic Cummings; the PM joined it at about 20:00
Ms Gray says she was able to gather only "limited" information on this gathering before the Met started investigating
Indoor gatherings of two or more people were banned unless they were "reasonably necessary" for work purposes

16 April 2021: Two gatherings in Downing Street to mark the departures of No 10 officials

Two separate leaving events took place in No 10, one for director of communications James Slack and one for another official
Alcohol was consumed and speeches were made at both events, and the two groups eventually came together in the Downing Street garden
Some people "gathered near a child's swing/slide in the garden, damaging it by leaning on and playing with it"
Staff members stayed until the early hours, with the last leaving at 04:20 in the morning the next day
Gatherings of two or more people indoors or more than six outdoors were prohibited

What photographs have been included?

In total, nine photographs from inside Downing Street appear in the report. They show:

Mr Johnson, Mr Sunak and Cabinet Secretary Simon Case gathered in the Cabinet Room for a birthday party thrown in the PM's honour in June 2020

Image source, Cabinet Office

Mr Johnson drinking with staff at an event to mark the departure of officials on 13 November 2020

Image source, Cabinet Office

What are her criticisms and feedback?

Mr Gray's critique is primarily made in two sections focusing on the context at the time of the parties, and her conclusions as to how they were allowed to happen at the heart of government during the pandemic.

The pandemic "had a seismic impact on every aspect of life in the country" and restrictions were put in place to "control the spread of the virus and to keep the most vulnerable safe"
Ministers and officials "worked long hours under difficult conditions in buildings that could not be easily adapted as Covid secure workplaces"
But Ms Gray says those challenges "applied to key and frontline workers across the country who were working under equally, if not more, demanding conditions"
The report highlights the "personal sacrifices" everyone made, including those who were not able to see "loved ones in their last moments or care for vulnerable family and friends"

Regardless of "initial intent", many of the events investigated were not "in line with Covid guidance at the time"
The findings of the report "illustrate some attitudes and behaviours inconsistent with that guidance"
It was clear there were breaches of the Covid regulations and guidance, given the Met Police fined 83 people

She says she has already commented on "failures of leadership and judgment in No 10 and the Cabinet Office" in her initial report
Many events were attended by leaders in government and "should not have been allowed to happen"
Ms Gray says "the senior leadership at the centre, both political and official, must bear responsibility for this culture"
The public have "a right to expect the very highest standards of behaviour" in Downing Street and "clearly what happened fell well short of this"

Some staff "felt unable to raise" concerns about behaviour they had witnessed at work
Ms Gray says she found "multiple examples of a lack of respect and poor treatment of security and cleaning staff", which was "unacceptable"
She says "a clear and robust policy covering the consumption of alcohol in the workplace" has been recommended and implemented

Ms Gray says disciplinary action "is for others to consider" following her report
Her report does not amount to a "disciplinary investigation", but she did offer some reflections
She says it is "important to acknowledge that those in the most junior positions attended gatherings at which their seniors were present, or indeed organised"
Ms Gray says she hopes junior staff learn from this experience and "this will be taken into account in considering any disciplinary action"

Ms Gray said she was "pleased progress is being made in addressing the issues I raised"
There have been "changes to the organisation and management of Downing Street and the Cabinet Office with the aim of creating clearer lines of leadership and accountability"