What about... Still enjoying Boris' downfall Part 4. The one with the report released?

[jgw1]

Part 4

Hope certain posters have their lines to take ready prepared.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1051374/Investigation_into_alleged_gatherings_on_government_premises_during_Covid_restrictions_-_Update.pdf

A bit empty but she has said Gatherings shouldn't have happened, Lack of leadership, Excessive drinking, Behaviors difficult to justify....

Hardly the actions of Inspirational & Strong Leadership which is required during a national emergency.

Which leads on to explain why the UK got so much so wrong.

Lewis Goodall
This is really important. Sue Gray herself says that it's impossible, given police investigation and limits to what she feels able to say, "to provide a meaningful report setting out and analysing the extensive factual information I have been able to gather."
twitter.com/lewis_goodall/status/1488156307714674694?t=C2OJqlhz6Z6NsCozxcDpZg&s=19

The Conclusion reads

The gatherings within the scope of this investigation are spread over a 20-month period – a period that has been unique in recent times in terms of the complexity and breadth of the demands on public servants and indeed the general public. 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.

Ho hum, the old 'lessons will be learnt' guff.

I am glad I am retired and no longer have to listen to such bollocks on a regular basis.

Christ this reeks of a coverup. That report says nothing.

So there are 4 dates the Met are not investigating, all others they are, how many wil that be?

Criticism of Johnson's leadership?

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

This part about the garden in interesting given the discussions we have had on this thread:

The use of the garden at No 10 Downing Street should be primarily for the Prime Minister and the private residents of No 10 and No 11 Downing Street. During the pandemic it was often used as an extension of the workplace as a more covid secure means of holding group meetings in a ventilated space. This was a sensible measure that staff appreciated, but the garden was also used for gatherings without clear authorisation or oversight. This was not appropriate. Any official access to the space, including for meetings, should be by invitation only and in a controlled environment.

Also:

Some staff wanted to raise concerns about behaviours they witnessed at work but at times felt unable to do so.

Well that was a waste of time, basically some woolly words about lack of a decent structure in Downing Street and that's that. No "smoking gun", nothing to see here at all really. Unless the police prosecute senior politicians or Cummings publishes further evidence this whole thing is dead in the water.

Lewis got the answer

Gray confirms she's been investigating 16 events.

She also says the Met is investigation all of these events save for four:
15 May 2020
27 November 2020
10 December 2020
15 December 2020

So confirmation the Met are definitely investigating the event the PM attended on 20th May

@DuncinToffee

So there are 4 dates the Met are not investigating, all others they are, how many wil that be?

I understood they ae only investigating 8 of the 17 gatherings.

Don't know, she has highlighted a gathering in the PM flat 19th November 2020.

Thats pretty damming for a PM who stood up in Parliament and said "no rules were broken"

13 November 2020:
o a gathering in the No 10 Downing Street flat;
o a gathering in No 10 Downing Street on the departure of a special
adviser;

Sky news have pointed out this is the day Dominic left...and the gathering in the flat was Carrie having a party to celebrate.

oops.

@WindyState

Christ this reeks of a coverup. That report says nothing.

Not sure if it's a cover up but surely stating these gatherings shouldn't have taken place isn't new is it?

How many times does she mention 'party' in the report, has anyone spotted it?

@Peregrina

Ho hum, the old 'lessons will be learnt' guff.

I am glad I am retired and no longer have to listen to such bollocks on a regular basis.

Indeed

Phrases to look out for this afternoon are ‘we clearly didn’t get everything right.’, ‘important lessons have been learnt’ ‘I’m determined to see this never happens again’ and ‘we’re on a journey.’
Armando Iannucci

Sorry crossed in post with Duncin's message. May be I misheard but the BBC reported gave quite a long list of investigations in Sue Gray that the Met would not be investigating, including the Cheese & Wine event.

I dare say it will become clear in due course.

Is this line saying Johnson delegated too much responsibility to his PPS? That would fit in with what has been said about Johnson being lazy and lacking attention to detail.

Too much responsibility and expectation is placed on the senior official whose principal function is the direct support of the Prime Minister. This should be addressed as a matter of priority

@Alexandra2001

Constantly misinterpreting what others have written, whether deliberately or through lack of skill, renders a forum useless

What wrecks a forum is posters deliberately diverting from topics they don't like onto completely unrelated ones.

And constantly dredging up links to old news reports of things that aren't remotely relevant to the subject matter of the threads

I think the report was as damning as she was permitted to be. If he doesn’t resign, the MP’s who were not at said gatherings should oust him.

@Florianus

For those who have time to watch, the PM is making a statement in the Commons on the Sue Gray report after Education Dept questions (which start at 2.30, in about 20 minutes).

PM's statement now expected at 15.30

@pussycatunpickingcrossesagain

*13 November 2020: o a gathering in the No 10 Downing Street flat; o a gathering in No 10 Downing Street on the departure of a special adviser;*

Sky news have pointed out this is the day Dominic left...and the gathering in the flat was Carrie having a party to celebrate.

oops.

Snort.

@Florianus

Sorry crossed in post with Duncin's message. May be I misheard but the BBC reported gave quite a long list of investigations in Sue Gray that the Met would not be investigating, including the Cheese & Wine event.

I dare say it will become clear in due course.

I think I cross posted with myself as well

@pussycatunpickingcrossesagain

*13 November 2020: o a gathering in the No 10 Downing Street flat; o a gathering in No 10 Downing Street on the departure of a special adviser;*

Sky news have pointed out this is the day Dominic left...and the gathering in the flat was Carrie having a party to celebrate.

oops.

I've never known if there is any truth that he was sacked for repeatedly referring to Carrie as Princess Nut Nuts. Others say it was because his colleagues could not get on with him. I doubt that SG tackles this in her report, though.

@SartresSoul

I think the report was as damning as she was permitted to be. If he doesn’t resign, the MP’s who were not at said gatherings should oust him.

I agree. I get the feeling that SG was far more restrained than she would have liked to be.