Boris Johnson news – live: Labour denies Sue Gray appointment a ‘distraction’ from Partygate inquiry
Labour chairwoman Anneliese Dodds says she is “delighted” Sue Gray has joined Labour and that the right procedures will be followed
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Hiring Sue Gray to work as Keir Starmer’s next chief of staff is not a “distraction” said Labour’s chairwoman, Anneliese Dodds, responding to criticism of the appointment.
In an interview with Sky News Ms Dodds hit back at criticism that by hiring Sue Gray Labour was needlessly causing controversy and undermining confidence in civil service neutrality.
Ms Dodds said: “Sue Gray is a person of enormous integrity. Someone who served in the civil service under ministers of a number of parties actually, someone who’s always served with that integrity.”
She added: “I’m really delighted she’s joining the Labour team at that point where we’re readying ourselves for government if the British public backs us at the next general election.
“What’s important to us as Labour, as ever, is that we see the same rules and approaches being applied to this, as she would see with any other appointment. That’s why the civil service procedures on confidentiality will be followed.”
However, the appointment has provoked widespread outrage in the Convservative Party with some MPs saying it raises question about the impartiality of her report on Partygate that contributed to Boris Johnson’s resignation.
What was in Friday’s interim Partygate report?
Evidence published on Friday included messages between No 10’s then communications director Jack Doyle and an official discussing the birthday gathering held for Mr Johnson in 2020, for which the ex-PM was fined by police.
Mr Doyle wrote: “I’m struggling to come up with a way this one is in the rules in my head.”
In response to a suggestion that they describe the event as “reasonably necessary for work purposes”, he said: “Not sure that one works does it? Also blows another great gaping hole in the PM’s account doesn’t it?”
One No 10 official in another exchange said a colleague was “worried about leaks of PM having a piss-up and to be fair I don’t think it’s unwarranted”.
Further evidence came in the form of new photos showing Mr Johnson and colleagues drinking alcohol in close confines.
During strict post-Christmas lockdown rules, the then Conservative leader can be seen apparently mid-speech in front of four bottles of sparkling wine, as well as beers.
The committee will cross-examine what Mr Johnson knew at the time of his various denials to the Commons, including saying on December 8, 2021 that no rules had been broken despite Ms Gray and the police concluding otherwise.
In a statement, Mr Johnson said: “I believe that their labours have helped establish the obvious truth: It is clear from this report that I have not committed any contempt of Parliament.
“It is also clear that what I have been saying about this matter from the beginning has been vindicated.
“That is because there is no evidence in the report that I knowingly or recklessly misled Parliament, or that I failed to update Parliament in a timely manner.”
In what is likely to be a highly anticipated appearance, Mr Johnson is expected to give oral evidence as part of the inquiry and which will be broadcast live on television in the week starting March 20.
Mr Johnson received one of the 126 fines issued by Scotland Yard over lockdown-busting parties in Downing Street and Whitehall.
If found to have lied to Parliament and suspended for more than 10 days, he could be forced to face a by-election.
RECAP: Partygate breaches would have been ‘obvious’ to Johnson, report says
Boris Johnson is facing fresh pressure over partygate after MPs said evidence strongly suggests breaches of coronavirus rules would have been “obvious” to the then-prime minister.
The cross-party Privileges Committee said the Commons may have been misled at least four times, with MPs set to cross-examine Mr Johnson later this month.
The former prime minister offered a robust defence, as he claimed that the inquiry’s preliminary report showed he was being “vindicated” and he sought to cast doubt on civil service investigator Sue Gray’s own report into events in Downing Street following her move to Sir Keir Starmer’s office.
According to the written evidence in the committee’s interim report, Mr Johnson remarked a mid-pandemic leaving party in No 10 was “probably the most unsocially distanced gathering in the UK right now”.
WhatsApp messages given to the inquiry show advisers “struggling” with how parties were within the rules, with one conceding an excuse “blows another great gaping hole in the PM’s account”.
The committee said: “The evidence strongly suggests that breaches of guidance would have been obvious to Mr Johnson at the time he was at the gatherings.
“There is evidence that those who were advising Mr Johnson about what to say to the press and in the House were themselves struggling to contend that some gatherings were within the rules.”
It also defended its probe from Mr Johnson’s comments, saying it is “not based on the Sue Gray report”, which last year detailed lockdown-breaking, booze-fuelled parties in Downing Street during Mr Johnson’s leadership.
Mr Johnson told broadcasters on Friday that people may now look at the Gray inquiry in a “different light”.
“If you told me at the time I commissioned Sue Gray to do the inquiry, if you told me all the stuff that I now know, I think I might have cross-examined her more closely about her independence.”
Sir Keir refused to say when conversations with Ms Gray began about a role in Labour, but the surprise move has been used by allies of Mr Johnson attempt to discredit the Privileges Committee inquiry.
Brexit voter says he was 'sold the wrong thing' and would now vote Remain
Tory MP Lee Anderson condemned for comments over asylum seeker hotel protests
Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson has said he understands why people have been protesting outside hotels housing asylum seekers.
A number of demonstrations have taken place in recent weeks, most notably in Merseyside where 15 people were arrested, a police van was set on fire and officers were pelted with objects in violent clashes near the Suites Hotel in Knowsley.
Speaking to the BBC’s Political Thinking podcast with Nick Robinson, Mr Anderson defended protesters turning up at hotels providing refuge for asylum seekers.
Tory MP Lee Anderson condemned for comments over asylum seeker hotel protests
Lee Anderson denied that protesters were ‘far-right extremists’
Nigel Farage backs Boris for saying ‘f*** the Americans’: ‘Biden hasn’t exactly been friendly to the UK’
Former UK Independence Party MEP Nigel Farage on Friday defended former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s vulgar “f*** the Americans” outburst last month, telling The Independent that the remarks were justified because of the Biden administration stance on Northern Ireland.
Mr Farage admitted that such a remark would be typical of Mr Johnson and slammed the current US government for not taking sides in the dispute between the UK and EU.
“He may well have said that, but that’s just Boris being Boris,” he said, adding that the Biden administration — which has held off on negotiating a bilateral trade agreement with the UK while the Northern Ireland issue remained unresolved — “hasn’t exactly been friendly to the UK”.
Nigel Farage backs Boris for saying ‘f*** the Americans’
‘That’s just Boris being Boris,’ the former UKIP leader says
Sue Gray's appointment in Labour Party 'stinks', says Jacob Rees-Mogg
Read bombshell Partygate inquiry Whatsapp messages in full
A new report into Boris Johnson and the Partygate scandal has been released by MPs investigating whether the former Conservative prime minister lied to Parliament about his attendance at lockdown parties.
The House of Commons Committee on Privileges is looking into what Mr Johnson said about the Downing Street events that broke the restrictions his own government had imposed during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The committee published a 24-page dossier on Friday that will be used to question Mr Johnson when he appears before MPs later this month.
Joe Sommerlad has the details.
Read bombshell Partygate inquiry Whatsapp messages in full
‘I’m struggling to come up with a way this one is in the rules in my head’
VOICES: John Rentoul: Boris Johnson is trying to use Sue Gray as part of a desperate ploy
Rishi Sunak must be in despair at the return of colourful accounts of lockdown parties, writes John Rentoul.
Boris Johnson is trying to use Sue Gray as part of a desperate ploy | John Rentoul
Rishi Sunak must be in despair at the return of colourful accounts of lockdown parties, writes John Rentoul
Boris Johnson ‘believed implicitly’ Downing Street parties were ‘within the rules’
What does Boris Johnson have to fear from the Partygate inquiry?
Johnson’s chances of a comeback are in the hands of fellow MPs – and possibly the voters of South Ruislip, says Sean O’Grady
What does Boris Johnson have to fear from the Partygate inquiry?
Johnson’s chances of a comeback are in the hands of fellow MPs – and possibly the voters of South Ruislip, says Sean O’Grady
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments