The Sue Gray report on the lockdown parties by UK government officials has been released and the findings are sending shockwaves across the nation.
According to the report, investigations have shown there were at least 16 parties held at 10, Downing Street, the residence of Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The parties were held between May 2020 and April 2021. Twelve of these parties are being investigated by the police.
Gray, a civil servant, called it a “failure of leadership and judgement”, and noted there was excessive drinking at the venue that was “not appropriate for a professional workplace”.
At a time when ministers were asking citizens to severely limit their lives, “some of the behaviour surrounding these gatherings is difficult to justify”, she wrote.
“Some of the events should not have been allowed to take place. Other events should not have been allowed to develop as they did.”
Yesterday, Johnson apologised in Parliament for breaking pandemic rules.
“I want to say sorry... I understand the anger that people feel. We must look at ourselves in the mirror and we must learn," Johnson told MPs.
MPs from his own party, including former prime minister of the UK Theresa May, lashed out at the prime minister in the House of Commons after the report's revelations.
The report though damning is only a redacted version of the full report that has details of the parties and further allegations. This could be released after further investigation by the police.
Despite calls for Johnson’s resignation, he has refused to comment on it.
