On 31st January 2022, Sue Gray released an update into her investigation into alleged gatherings in Downing Street and linked properties during the height of the Covid restrictions. This update was released in place of the full report as the investigation had resulted in a police investigation.
Although the update was extremely limited in what it revealed, it did reveal quite a lot of information which was not previously public - including the fact that there had been 16 gatherings, of which 12 were under police investigation. These findings have contradicted a number of statements made by the sitting Prime Minister, Boris Johnson to the House of Commons.
If Boris Johnson has indeed knowingly lied to Parliament, then he will be expected to step down.
It is of paramount importance that Ministers give accurate and truthful information to Parliament, correcting any inadvertent error at the earliest opportunity. Ministers who knowingly mislead Parliament will be expected to offer their resignation to the Prime Minister;
What I can tell the right hon. and learned Gentleman is that all guidance was followed completely in No. 10.
At least some of the gatherings in question represent a serious failure to observe not just the high standards expected of those working at the heart of Government but also of the standards expected of the entire British population at the time.
Will the Prime Minister tell the House whether there was a party in Downing Street on 13 November?
No, but I am sure that whatever happened, the guidance was followed and the rules were followed at all times.
In line with those terms of reference the following events were in scope: ...
- 13 November 2020:
- a gathering in the No 10 Downing Street flat;
- a gathering in No 10 Downing Street on the departure of a special adviser
The date of the 13th November is also two of the 12 events under Police investigation.
Metropolitan Police ... are investigating the events on the dates set out above with the exception of the gatherings on:
- 15 May 2020
- 27 November 2020
- 10 December 2020
- 15 December 2020
The above are two examples of statements that Johnson made which were provably incorrect. On top of these, the Sue Gray update does not paint a pretty picture.
If you believe that the examples above and the general content of Sue Gray's update are not behaviour you would expect from those leading our country then I would urge you to write to your MP and ask that they demand Johnson's resignation.