A cabinet source told The Telegraph that using the Civil Service Code as a pretext for removing Mr Case was “one of the tools available.”
The code – which is part of the contractual relationship between civil servants and their employers – states that officials must “always act in a professional manner and who deserve and maintain the trust of all those with whom you work”.
The source added: “These codes are written and applied in a way that is quite subjective. People can use the code to protect people they like or isolate people they don’t like. “
They said that if Mr Case left, it would be because he resigned voluntarily, not because he was fired.
“Often in these cases, people prefer to go than to be seen being pushed,” the source said. “It is clear that there is little positioning, some will try to portray him as a scapegoat. I don’t think many options look good for him. “
Mr Case, who is in fact Mrs Gray’s boss, was originally appointed to be in charge of the Partygate investigation last December, but was forced to resign when he turned out to be hosting a Christmas party that included a quiz on 17 December 2020, when indoor gatherings were banned.
He also attended Mr. Johnson’s surprise birthday party on June 19, 2020, but unlike the prime minister, his wife Carrie, and Chancellor Rishi Sunak, he did not receive an FPN.
The main burden of fines was on junior civil servants
Scotland Yard declined to explain why some people were fined and others were not, but there is growing concern in the civil service that the 126 FPNs distributed are to junior officials, while their bosses often avoid sanction.
A Whitehall source said: “Many junior civil servants, many of them young women, are really worried that their future careers will be affected by fines. Although they are ready to take responsibility for breaking the rules, it seems that their bosses are not and that is causing a lot of concern. “
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