Ex-publican Gray must raise the bar

Sir, – Sue Gray, the civil servant investigating lockdown parties, is a former publican who seems to be an appropriate person for the serving of alcohol at No 10 parties.

However, press leaks indicate Gray will clear Boris of outright criminality as she is being manoeuvred into a report that is politically survivable for him rather than one the public expects and deserves.

This chimes with tactics to raise the bar of her inquiry to a higher level, as for the likes of past miscreants Professor Neil Ferguson and Matt Hancock who both resigned, eventually.

Nonetheless, her previous inquiries included allegations Damian Green MP had lied about porn

on his House of Commons computer for which Theresa May, then PM, sacked him, and Andrew Mitchell MP who allegedly insulted police at Downing Street, known as “Plebgate”, and subsequently resigned as chief whip.

However, more indiscretions by Johnson have come to light so he should also be in her in-tray.

He announced on March 16 2020 that all travel must stop and people should stay at home, which included no visits to second homes whether for isolation or holiday.

Johnson issued rules for the public while making others for himself.

He regularly visited his second home, Chequers, when he commuted back and forth after telling the nation to stop travelling.

The press got a whiff of

this but No 10 denied the accusation, then refused to answer and only after staff at Chequers contracted Covid did they eventually admit this was indeed the case.

The pattern of Johnson’s evasiveness continues.

Gray does not have the power to sack her boss so must be replaced immediately by one who can, a judge. Problem solved.

Ian Wallace. Chapman Drive, Carnoustie.

Sue Gray heads the probe into lockdown-breaking parties.