The long-awaited Sue Gray Report into parties held at Downing Street during Coronavirus Lockdowns was presented to the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, today (Monday).
Mr Johnson came under fire in the House of Commons this afternoon, including from former Prime Minister Theresa May who asked Johnson whether he knew about the rules or simply ignored them.
12 criminal investigations
The initial 12-page report presented today by Sue Gray is extremely limited.
She did however, confirm that 12 of the 16 events are now being investigated by the Met Police, who say they have received 300 pictures and 500 pages of documents from the Sue Gray Inquiry.
Seely: PM already apologised and I hope will learn lessons
News OnTheWight put three questions to Isle of Wight Conservative MP, Bob Seely, this afternoon:
- What is your view of the Report which was published today?
- Do you believe the full report, without redactions, should be published once Police investigations are concluded?
- Do you still support Boris Johnson as Prime Minister? (he avoided answering this one when we asked earlier this month)
He avoided answering all the questions this time, instead giving this response,
“I understand why some people are angry. The PM has already apologised and I hope will learn lessons.
“I have received over 300 letters from Islanders. I have replied to most and I will finish replying to them all this week. I thank everyone who has written to me on this issue.
“Whilst not downplaying this, I think a sense of proportion is valuable.
“Does ‘partygate’ compare to all the work that I have been doing getting a better deal from Government for the Island? No.
“Does ‘partygate’ compare to 100k ‘ghost kids’ missing from schools across England? No.
“Does ‘partygate’ compare to events in Ukraine, where tens of thousands of people may be days away from dying in a war? No.
“As I say, I understand peoples’ frustration and concerns, I think a sense of proportion is valuable. I would much rather Parliament and Government focused on delivering priorities that are important for our country and for the Island, and that’s what I am focused on.”
Quigley: It’s clearly self before country
Richard Quigley, Chair of Island Labour, told News OnTheWight,
“Despite the immense pressure Sue Gray has come under and the report is only an update pending the Met Police investigations, the conclusion is clear. There was a failure of leadership that lead to clear law breaking.
“The PM will no doubt offer some contrition to assuage his critics from within the Tory party. He will think he has got away with it, as does our own MP Bob Seely after his lockdown BBQ in Seaview.
“Islanders aren’t that interested in parties and cake, what they do care about is justice and not feeling like they have been played for fools. If the PM’s party can lie about this, what else are they lying about, that’s the question I have been asked over an over again.
“If the PM was in any way patriotic, he would resign as would Bob Seely, but neither will as it’s clearly self before country.
“We now need to pressure the government to break the paralysis caused by saving their PM’s job, to helping the ever increasing number of families that are choosing between heating and eating as the cost of living crisis bites and the increase in National Insurance contributions takes even more money out of hard working families pockets.”
Lowthion: Criminal levels of hypocrisy, unprofessionalism and incompetency
Vix Lowthion, Chair of Isle of Wight Green Party, told News OnTheWight,
“Although we won’t know the detail about the 12 individual events until the Met investigations are complete, these early findings from Sue Gray’s interim report point towards criminal levels of hypocrisy, unprofessionalism and incompetency.
“The lies, the cover ups and the denials have made everything even worse. Whilst we were all following the rules, the man who set the rules thought he was above the law. He took us for fools. An apology is nowhere near enough.
“Any self respecting leader would take responsibility and resign, but then he is the worst Prime Minister this country has ever had. He has no shame. If he doesn’t have the decency to go, then his MPs must force him out now for the sake of the nation.
“It is vital now that the Met investigation and Sue Gray’s report are completed without any further delay or interference. Nobody is above the law.”
Stuart: ‘Remove this entitled, lying, incompetent Prime Minister now’
Nick Stuart, Chair of the Isle of Wight Liberal Democrats, told News OnTheWight,
“Limited by its terms of reference and utterly hijacked by a late police investigation, this report still manages to point out the blatant disregard for their own rules and regulations.
“Boris has yet again failed to take any personal responsibility hiding behind rhetoric and flannel; but we’ve read the report. The lies told by Boris and the shameless approach he has taken leaves Parliament with one choice given his complete lack of morality. While Bob Seely’s failure to recognise the truth is unfortunately only too familiar.
“So let’s make it clear we say ‘Remove this entitled, lying, incompetent Prime Minister now’.”
Article edit
6.25pm 31st Jan 2022 – Comment from Nick Stuart added
Image: © Parliament TV
