'It looks like Cressida is trying to PROTECT Boris':
Furious ex-cops and MPs accuse 'incompetent' Met chief of 'Whitehall farce' and
Partygate 'stitch up' as police order Sue Gray to water down report - which
could delay verdict for months
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/index.html
Tories,
lawyers and ex-officers have joined a furious backlash after police confirmed
they have told the Cabinet Office the long-awaited document should feature
'minimal reference' to lockdown breaches that might be criminal. The
announcement has thrown the situation into complete chaos, with Ms Gray now
considering pausing the process rather than releasing a version that would
inevitably be condemned as a whitewash. Police waited until the report was
all-but complete to launch their own investigation into some of the allegations
on Tuesday, but initially briefed they were still happy for the civil servant's
findings to be published in full. Opposition MPs vented fury at the latest
move, which will be a massive relief to Boris Johnson as the Yard probe is not
likely to be complete for weeks or even months. Some complained that the events
'reek of a stitch-up' while others suggested it was down to 'incompetence'.
Former police officers and legal figures questioned the timing and whether
publishing the report would really prejudice the police investigation. Even
loyalist Tories conceded the situation is a 'mess', saying it should have been
obvious the report would have to go on hold during a criminal investigation.
Downing Street parties: Sue Gray not expected to
wait for police inquiry
Sue Gray is expected to deliver her report on No 10
parties to the PM without waiting for the police inquiry to conclude, the BBC
has been told.
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-60177028
The senior
civil servant is expected to hand her report to the prime minister shortly,
however no exact timescale has been given.
It comes
after days of confusion over when the report would be published.
The Met
Police has denied its investigation is to blame for any delay.
The police
had asked for minimal references to be made to the events they are investigating,
meaning the report Ms Gray releases before the police probe is complete may
need to contain some redactions, or be changed.
Downing
Street has not yet received the report.
Earlier
today, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer called for the report to be published in
full and the investigations to be wrapped up as soon as possible.
The SNP and
Liberal Democrats are claiming the delay in publication is a
"stitch-up" aimed at keeping Boris Johnson in power.
The report
is seen as key to Mr Johnson's political future with many of its own
Conservative MPs saying they will wait for its publication before deciding
whether to take action against the prime minister.
Mr Johnson
has been under pressure following a string of allegations about events held in
Downing Street and other government premises during coronavirus restrictions.
On Tuesday,
Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick announced that the force were
investigating the gatherings.
In a
statement released on Friday, the Met Police clarified they expect to approach
individuals "identified as having potentially breached" regulations
in writing.
Commander
Catherine Roper, who leads the Met's Central Specialist Crime Command said
"the offences under investigation, where proven, would normally result in
the issuing of a fixed penalty notice" and said the Met's actions would be
"proportionate to the nature of these offences".
She
reiterated that "the Met has asked for minimal reference to be made in the
Cabinet Office report to relevant events. This will only be necessary until
these matters are concluded".
Material
has been received from the Cabinet Office today by the Met, which it requested
to "support its investigation into potential breaches of Covid-19
regulations at a number of events in Downing St and Whitehall".
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