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Downing Street parties ‘failures of leadership and judgment’ by No 10 says Sue Gray report

25 May 2022 2 minute read
One of the photos included in the Sue Gray report

The downing street parties were “failures of leadership and judgment” by those at No 10, the Sue Gray report has concluded.

The much-delayed but damning report has been published today on the UK Government website.

The report includes a message from then Director of Communications Lee Cain who warned that one of the parties would make a bad impression.

“I’m sure it will be fine – and I applaud the gesture – but a 200 odd person invitation for drinks in the garden of no 10 is somewhat of a comms risk in the current environment,” he said. In another message, he discusses the “rather substantial comms risks” of another leaving party.

Martin Reynolds, Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister, is also quoted as having sent a Whatsapp message saying that he was pleased “we seem to have got away with” a drinks event without the press picking up on it.

Sue Grey also notes that she stopped part of her own inquiry when the Met Office decided to investigate the parties and ultimately issue the Prime Minister with a single fine.

‘Excessive’

The report concludes that “against the backdrop of the pandemic, when the Government was asking citizens to accept far-reaching restrictions on their lives, some of the behaviour surrounding these gatherings is difficult to justify”.

“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.

“At times it seems there was too little thought given to what was happening across the country in considering the appropriateness of some of these gatherings, the risks they presented to public health and how they might appear to the public.

“There were failures of leadership and judgment by different parts of No 10 and the Cabinet Office at different times. Some of the events should not have been allowed to take place. Other events should not have been allowed to develop as they did.

“The excessive consumption of alcohol is not appropriate in a professional workplace at any time. Steps must be taken to ensure that every Government Department has a clear and robust policy in place covering the consumption of alcohol in the workplace.”


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I. Humphrys
I. Humphrys
2 years ago

But is this Our problem? Our problem is getting the freedom to sort things in Cymru.

The Original Mark
The Original Mark
2 years ago
Reply to  I. Humphrys

It’s our problem that he is overseeing the most corrupt UK government in living memory, and the Senedd have to deal with them.

I. Humphrys
I. Humphrys
2 years ago

If he goes, everything remains the same, and all that’s left is wasted effort on a little victory. Total focus should be on Indy and the coming crisis blown back from sanctions. Senedd should be planning on giving our farmers everything to aid food production and securing fuel for next winter.

Cynan
Cynan
2 years ago
Reply to  I. Humphrys

We will never get freedom for the Greasy Johnsonite Tory junta. If any decent moderate Tories survived the One-Nation-Brexiteer-Tories’ Krystallnacht , maybe progress could be made.
dePfeffell needs removing for progress to freedom to be made

Gareth Cemlyn Jones
Gareth Cemlyn Jones
2 years ago

It seems that release of the report has been very carefully orchestrated and manipulated. The pictures already shown by ITV seem to have taken some of the ‘sting’ from the report and there does not appear to be anything substantially new in the report itself that was not already public knowledge. I’m sure that BJ will obfuscate and mumble his way through this with statements that ‘processes have now been put in place to change the culture etc etc..’

The Original Mark
The Original Mark
2 years ago

Just waiting for Fay Jones to jump to johnsons defence, she’ll do anything to improve her chances of getting into certain government departments, N.C should keep a close eye on her.

Cwm Rhondda
Cwm Rhondda
2 years ago

Aside from the partying, Sue Gray said she “was made aware of multiple examples of a lack of respect and poor treatment of security and cleaning staff.” This is the private face of the Tories showing their true colours – WHO DO THEY THINK THEY ARE!!!

Steve Duggan
Steve Duggan
2 years ago

What a joke this report is, made as it was by a person appointed by one of the figures it was investigating, who secretly met with her while the report was being compiled. It shows just how corrupt the whole system now is and is one of the primarily reasons why – we need independence and now !

Gareth
Gareth
2 years ago

What a bunch of utter bas***ds. 200 of them gather for a party, while I was told, I and my family, had to remain seperated from my nephews at the funeral of my younger brother during restrictions. Angry does not describe how I feel about the scum, while undertakers were keeping us all seperated, this lot were partying. Fined, Fined, flogged they should be.

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