Whitehall Mandarin’s Sue Gray report on the anti-blocking parties on Downing Street will include details of emails suggesting “intentionality” among employees planning events, it is claimed today.
An unnamed source told the Sunday Times that the report would show that the rules had been “deliberately violated” as an employee stormed a discussion at the scene of a planned event to ask, “Is this reasonable?”
Ms. Gray’s full report at Partygate will be published following the completion of investigations by the Metropolitan Police into 12 events at No. 10 and Whitehall, which are alleged to have violated Covid-19 restrictions in 2020 and 2021.
Police have already imposed fines – including a £ 50 fine that made Boris Johnson the first incumbent prime minister punished for breaking the law – but more are expected to come as they work through questionnaires filled out by more than 100 politicians and officials.
It is believed that in the last few days new questionnaires have been sent related to the leaving party of former Downing Street Communications Director Lee Kane in November 2020.
The exchange of emails about leaving drinks for employee № 10 Hannah Young in June 2020, received by the Sunday Times and believed to have been sent to Ms. Gray’s inquiry, raised new concerns about the level of planning involved. in events.
Planning is a key factor in assessing the seriousness of any wrongdoing, with Mr Johnson insisting that his birthday party, for which he was fined, was organized unexpectedly, while he spent 25 minutes in a bring-it-yourself event. “For 50 employees in the garden № 10 with the impression that it is a” work event “.
A source told the Sunday Times: “The most shocking thing Sue’s report revealed was a series of emails revealing the extent to which the parties were intentional and the rules were intentionally violated. She is also concerned about the lack of remorse shown by those found to have broken the rules. “
The email trail includes a debate on whether the rooms in Room 10 are large enough to host Ms. Young’s event at a time when coronavirus restrictions were in place, or whether more space needs to be found in the office. .
At one point, it is said that one of those involved wondered if the event was a good idea by asking, “Is this wise?”
It is alleged that at this point, McNamara intervened and assured others in the email chain that she had solved the problem. According to acquaintances, she gave permission to use a room in the office.
Ultimately, the event is believed to have started in a common area on the ground floor of the cabinet before “migrating” to a room near the cabinet secretary’s office.
Cabinet ethics chief Helen McNamara – who was eventually fined £ 50 for attending the event – intervened with a room offer, saying the “noisy” event, which included a karaoke machine, was over. with a fight between two employees.
Gray is also believed to have copies of another email in which a very high-ranking official warned then-Prime Minister-designate Martin Reynolds against the staffing party at the Downing Street Garden in May 2020.
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