News / Reports

UK Partygate: the Sue Gray inquiry leaves much to be desired

Tuesday, 01 February 2022 11:15 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 02 February 2022 3:04 AM ]

Saeed Pourreza
Press TV, London

The conclusions of a much-anticipated inquiry into allegations of parties held at the UK prime minister’s office during lockdowns last year is finally out. Although published in its redacted form, the report has fueled anger among the public, political opposition, and members of Boris Johnson’s own conservative party.

At 11:30 am Monday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson received an important email. In the attachment: the outcome of a damning report into alleged parties under his roof last year.

Among other things, the 13-page report by senior civil servant Sue Gray looked at 16 gatherings during the pandemic has found that the behavior was difficult to justify, with failures of leadership and judgment, and too little thought was given to what was happening across the country.

The full version of the Sue Gray report is yet to be published, pending the result of a police investigation, but the scale of potential breaches meant Boris Johnson had to face the MPs in penitent mode again.

To the opposition, sorry was not enough. Members of the Prime Minister’s own party didn’t pull any punches either.

And while the Prime Minister and the people around him were allegedly having a good time away from prying eyes, the rest of the people adhered to the rules. Those who didn’t, were stopped unceremoniously.

The public mood here is one of outrage at the moment, but experts say what Boris Johnson desperately needs now is not public support but the backing of his own party members to avoid a leadership challenge.

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