Starmer calls for quick release of Sue Gray report on Scottish trip
SIR Keir Starmer said the Government had been “paralysed” by the looming Sue Gray investigation and the subsequent police inquiry into “partygate” as he called for both reports to be published as soon as possible.
The Labour leader said Boris Johnson was unfit for office and the scandal about rule-breaking in Downing Street was distracting him from tackling the cost of living crisis.
He also warned that Boris Johnson was damaging the United Kingdom and the union, with every day he remains as Prime Minister increasing support for Scottish independence.
Calling for the Sue Gray report into rule-breaking parties at Downing Street to be released in full as quickly as possible, the Labour leader said he wanted it with “no redactions, no edits, no bits left out”.
Speaking on a visit to Glasgow’s Forge Market to discuss soaring energy bills and the impending National Insurance increase, Sir Keir said: “What I want to see is Sue Gray’s report in full and the investigation finished as quickly as possible. Because we’re in this situation where the whole of Government is paralysed because the police are looking at what the Prime Minister was getting up to in Downing Street.
“On the one hand, you’ve got people really worried about their bills and you’ve got these investigations going on into what the Prime Minister was up to.
“He has paralysed the Government so the sooner we get both the full report and the investigation completed, the better.”
Commenting on whether he feels the Metropolitan Police were right to ask Sue Gray to make only “minimal reference” to any potentially criminal events being investigated by the force, he added: “We’ve got a criminal investigation into the behaviour of the Prime Minister and what went on in Downing Street.
“There are bound to be process issues along the way, but this is caused by one thing, and that’s the behaviour of the Prime Minister.”
Asked whether, with his legal background, he saw any issues of prejudice, Sir Keir said: “Any issues of prejudice have got to be worked through but this whole mess, this whole of paralysing of politics, is being caused by the Prime Minister and his wrongdoing.
“You have mixed emotions for people.
“People are angry they’re in grief about what what they’ve been through in the last two years while the Prime Minister is breaking the rules.”