Waiting for Partygate report
For Johnson, the moment of truth is near
1/26/2022 1:43 am
The party’s over, and Downing Street is in a hangover mood. A report is intended to reveal the full extent of the lockdown celebrations in the British seat of government. He could appear today. Prime Minister Johnson’s reaction is already clear.
In the affair of lockdown parties in Boris Johnson’s British seat of government, the hour of enlightenment is approaching. The investigation report, for which top official Sue Gray has collected evidence and interviewed witnesses for weeks, could be presented to the public this Wednesday, as various British media reports. However, it cannot be ruled out that the eagerly awaited moment of truth will be delayed again.
At the same time, the London police are investigating some celebrations in Downing Street. The police investigation announced on Tuesday initially threatened to delay indefinitely the release of the report by Sue Gray, who is based in the UK government’s Cabinet Office. However, the official, who is considered incorruptible and uncompromising, wants to present her results as soon as possible. In addition, the police reportedly had no objection, as Gray’s report was not intended to be about criminal penalties, only to clarify the facts.
Several Christmas parties, a birthday round, a garden party and late-night drinking before Prince Philip’s funeral: the list of allegedly illegal gatherings in Downing Street has become long. Sue Gray’s report is intended to clarify who celebrated when, where, how often and for how long with whom. Nothing less than Boris Johnson’s political survival depends on the results. Around half a dozen Tory MPs have already publicly called for the Prime Minister’s resignation. Many others said they wanted to await the report.
Johnson gets report first
Boris Johnson himself should first receive the report and then have to present it to the public a few hours later, as reported by the broadcaster ITV. Johnson is expected to issue another profuse apology and announce sweeping reform of Downing Street’s drinking culture – determined to save his political survival. On Tuesday, the prime minister welcomed the police investigation and said it would help draw a “closure” on the matter.
It remains to be seen whether this will turn out as Johnson envisages. Because the reactions in Johnson’s faction are likely to be even more exciting than the great clarification of the Partygate affair. If at least 15 percent of the conservative members of parliament – that’s 54 members of parliament – express no confidence in him, the prime minister has to face a vote. Nobody knows how many secret letters Graham Brady, the chairman of the responsible committee, has received so far.