12 pages that ‘blow apart’ Prime Minister’s defence ANALYSIS
Jason Beattie, Head of Politics
Against the backdrop of the pandemic, when the was asking citizens to Government accept far-reaching restrictions lives, some of the behaviour on their surrounding these gatherings difficult to justify. is At least some of the gatherings in question represent a failure to observe not just serious the high standards expected working at the heart of of those Government but also of expected the standards of the entire British population at the time.
What it means…
This is as close as Ms Gray gets to delivering a guilty verdict. The “serious” failure to “observe high standards” suggests that Covid rules were broken by the occupants of No10 and there was no justification for what took place. Her comments demolish Downing Street’s claim that the guidance was followed at all times. thought given to what was At times it seems there was too little of considering the appropriateness happening across the country in they presented to public health some of these gatherings, the risks public. and how they might appear to the and judgment by different parts There were failures of leadership different times. Some of the of No10 and the Cabinet Office at to take place. Other events events should not have been allowed as they did. should not have been allowed to develop
What it means…
This is the most damning part of the report.
The criticism of “failures of leadership” is a direct rebuke of Johnson.
The fact that Ms Gray concludes that the events should not have been allowed to take place suggests they were against the law.
The line “events should not have been allowed to develop as they did” reads like an admonishment of Johnson for failing to stop the parties and undermines his claim that nobody had told him the “bring you own booze” party might have been against the rules.