In the scandal surrounding lockdown parties, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is benefiting from the police investigations. Parts of the internal report, which is eagerly awaited, are to be blacked out for the time being.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a visit to the Royal Air Force in Anglesey, Wales, January 27, 2022.
(dpa) Breathe a sigh of relief for Boris Johnson: The London police want to black out essential parts of the eagerly awaited report on lockdown parties in the British seat of government. “We have asked that the Cabinet Office report make minimal reference to the events being investigated by the Metropolitan Police,” Scotland Yard said in a statement on Friday. This should prevent “any bias” in the investigation, it was said as a reason.
The delivery of the heavily censored report to Prime Minister Boris Johnson is said to be imminent, as British media reported on Friday evening, citing government sources. However, the official presentation in the London House of Commons is not expected before the beginning of the week.
The police surprisingly announced on Tuesday that they would investigate the matter. This delayed the release of the internal government report by top official Sue Gray. The full report was actually expected this week. It is now questionable whether he will come to light at all before the police investigation is completed.
The opposition parties insist on full publication. The police investigation, on the other hand, could later only be about whether those involved have to pay fines. This could significantly weaken the explosive force of both investigations, on which no less than Johnson’s political survival depends.
This is good news for Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has been under intense pressure for weeks. The internal report on several events in his office at 10 Downing Street and other government buildings is considered highly explosive. According to reports, government employees and Johnson himself are said to have disregarded their own rules for contact restrictions with celebrations during the pandemic. If this is confirmed, a vote of no confidence in the prime minister is likely.
The list of suspected illegal gatherings is long: several Christmas parties, a birthday party, a garden party and late-night drinking before the funeral of long-time Queen Prince Philip. Many Britons have recently been outraged. Gray’s report should clarify who celebrated when, where, how often and for how long with whom.
Conservative revolt averted for now?
Johnson had so far dismissed almost all questions about this with reference to the ongoing internal investigations and denied any knowledge of lockdown violations. Now he’s still gaining valuable time, because a heavily censored report is unlikely to endanger him. The danger of a revolt in his faction seems to have been averted for the time being. Because if it were confirmed that Johnson disregarded his own rules during the pandemic with the celebrations, then a vote of no confidence against Johnson, for which at least 54 Tory MPs would have to position themselves against him in writing, is likely.
Some legal experts doubted that the restrictions demanded by the police are necessary. “This is absolute bullshit from the Met Police,” Nazir Afzal, the former chief prosecutor in North West England, wrote on Twitter. A purely factual report by Sue Gray cannot prejudge the police investigation at all, Afzal continued, adding: “You just have to follow the evidence, of which the report will be a part.” Other experts, however, expressed understanding for the objections of the Metropolitan Police. “A criminal investigation must meet the highest standards of procedural fairness,” QC Alex Bailin told the BBC.
This is absolute nonsense from the Met Police
A purely factual report by Sue Gray cannot possibly prejudice a police investigation
They just have to follow the evidence, of which the report will be a part https://t.co/RrRLe5BEYq— nazir afzal (@nazirafzal) January 28, 2022
Labor leader Keir Starmer has described the government as “paralyzed” by the ongoing affair. He wants to see the full Sue Gray report. And the investigation must be completed as soon as possible, he told the BBC. Conservative MP Christopher Chope even accused the police of abusing their position to “interfere in affairs of state”.
For the first time, former Prime Minister Theresa May, who was overthrown at Johnson’s instigation, commented on the affair. According to a report in the local newspaper Maidenhead Advertiser, she wrote to voters in her constituency that she was angry about the alleged lockdown celebrations. Nobody is above the law.