Police ‘bungled’ inquiry into partygate gatherings
POLICE have been accused of bungling their investigation into illicit gatherings in Downing Street, as some government figures alleged to have broken rules received questionnaires relating to events that they had not attended.
Insiders said there were several cases of police letters accusing individuals of attending gatherings at which they could prove they were not present.
The disclosure comes after Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor, became the second most senior recipient of a Metropolitan Police questionnaire, after being accused of being present at a surprise birthday gathering for Mr Johnson in the Cabinet Room in June 2020.
Some 50 government figures are being sent formal questionnaires. They will have seven days to respond to the allegations of illegal behaviour.
One insider said there were “a few cases” of individuals having received questionnaires relating to events they had not attended.
A second source, an ally of Mr Johnson, suggested that the apparent errors showed that the police did not have at least some No10 figures “bang to rights”.
The Prime Minister has responded to his questionnaire. Detectives are now assessing his answers and deciding whether he had a “reasonable excuse” or broke the law and is to be issued with a fine.
A leaked copy of one questionnaire showed that the recipient was invited to confirm attendance at a specific event, as well as being asked: “What was the purpose of your participation in that gathering?” and “Did you interact with, or undertake any activity with, other persons present at the gathering?” The document makes clear that those filling it out are doing so “under caution”.
The latest claims come after Andrew Keogh, a criminal law barrister, told ITV News that the questionnaire “suggests that this is not a thorough investigation”. Mr Keogh said the questions posed are “as basic as you can possibly imagine them to be”.
He added: “It just suggests that there’s no effort going into any real investigation of ascertaining who, what, when, where and why.”
“This is anything but a rigorous investigation – it’s the direct opposite,” he said. “There’s just no effort gone in.”
Last night Adam Holloway, a Conservative member of the home affairs committee, said: “As far as I’m concerned the only events that would matter would be ones that the Prime Minister attended.
“The PM attended no parties. He may have thanked civil servants, people who he works with, and he may have had happy birthday sung to him, as I imagine hundreds of nurses did at nursing stations up and down the country.”
Detectives are investigating 12 alleged gatherings across eight separate dates between May 20 2020 and April 16 2021. But rather than dealing with the cases chronologically, it is understood that detectives have focused on the highest profile and most difficult to resolve ones first.
Speaking about those who would receive questionnaires, Dame Cressida Dick said before her resignation as the Metropolitan Police Commissioner: “Clearly some but probably not all of those people may very well end up with a fixed penalty notice.”