As the public awaits the outcome of senior civil servant Sue Gray’s inquiry into lockdown parties in Downing Street, it is understood that the Metropolitan Police force has asked for “minimal reference” to be made in the final report to events it is investigating as part of its own probe into the affair.
Gray had been expected to present her findings this week, but the police have now asked for details of the parties that they are investigating to be redacted.
Having announced that it would launch its own probe on Tuesday, the Met said in a statement on Friday that it had made the request for some details to be held back to “avoid any prejudice” to its own investigation.
The Met had opted to investigate after Gray had referred some details from her own inquiry over to the force.
However, the Met confirmed that it has not requested a delay to Sue Gray’s final report, nor has it requested “any limitations” on information provided relating to gatherings that are not being investigated as part of its probe. This has sparked fears that any version of Sue Gray’s report released before the police concludes its investigation could be a watered-down version of events.
It is unclear at this time how long the police investigation into potential Covid rule-breaking in Downing Street and Whitehall could take.
Prime minister Boris Johnson had promised full disclosure of the report but did not say when its release could be expected.
While Johnson has faced a multitude of calls to resign in recent weeks over the party scandal, including from some of his own MPs, many are known to be waiting for Sue Gray to publish her findings before deciding whether to write a letter of no confidence in his leadership to the 1922 Committee and push for his removal.
Photo by Tadas Petrokas on Unsplash
