A report into social gatherings held by U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his staff during the COVID-19 lockdown concluded “failures of leadership and judgment.”
Senior civil servant Sue Gray published an interim and redacted 12-page report regarding parties facilitated by government officials during the lockdown that “should not have been allowed to take place.”
Gray’s report did not criticize the prime minister, concluding “there is significant learning to be drawn from these events which must be addressed immediately across government”, according to the Associated Press. The report also noted the behavior was “difficult to justify” as the government asked its citizens to adjust their behavior and lives around the imposed restrictions.
However, the Metropolitan police requested Gray withhold some of her findings as they start their own criminal investigation. According to the AP, the police asked Gray to make “minimal reference” to the events to reduce any influence on their investigation.
However, Johnson’s opponents accused the government of watering down the report, Newsweek previously reported. Last week, Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, said the report needed to be released without any redactions or edits.
Some Conservative lawmakers said they would push for a no-confidence vote if the report finds Johnson at fault, although the partial report does give Johnson a reprieve, according to the AP.
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Opposition Labour Party lawmaker David Lammy tweeted earlier on Monday, “During this crisis, our country needed a leader more than at any time since the Second World War. We didn’t get one. This report shows what we have known all along: The Prime Minister is a coward, a rule-breaker and needs to step down.”
During this crisis, our country needed a leader more than at any time since the Second World War.
We didn’t get one.
This report shows what we have known all along: The Prime Minister is a coward, a rule-breaker and needs to step down.#SueGrayReport
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) January 31, 2022
Johnson apologized for his actions to lawmakers in the House of Commons. Johnson also acknowledged an apology was not enough saying he would create an Office of the Prime Minister, according to CNBC.
“I get it and I will fix it,” Johnson said.
When party allegations first surfaced, Johnson told parliament he had obeyed all the government’s lockdown rules; however, evidence demonstrates he had personally attended what appeared to be social events, according to The Guardian.
Since he purposely misled parliament, it could be cause for his resignation. Johnson may be interviewed by detectives as part of their investigation and may pay a fine if they conclude he violated the law, according to the AP.
Johnson is accused of holding “bring your own booze” office parties, birthday celebrations and “wine time Fridays,” held during both the 2020 and 2021 lockdowns, according to the AP.
Photo by Justin Tallis – WPA Pool/Getty Images
