A minister has condemned briefings which claim the senior civil servant Sue Gray is “playing politics” in the handling of the publication of her long-awaited report into rule-busting parties in No 10.
Boris Johnson and his top team are braced for the publication of the report, which will reportedly contain photographs of some of the events held during Covid regulations.
But amid a row over whether Ms Gray or No 10 instigated what has been described as a “secret meeting” to discuss the report, the prime minister’s “allies” have accused the civil servant of playing politics.
Appearing on Sky News, the chief secretary to the Treasury Simon Clarke said he condemned the briefing, claiming: “By repute she’s one of the most fiercely independent and professional civil servants in the whole of government. I don’t think there’s any politics”.
The prime minister is among dozens of Downing Street figures who have been warned they will be named in the report.
Top civil servant Simon Case could reportedly be among the hardest-hit by the document despite not being fined by police.
