Politicians across Lanarkshire have responded to the Sue Gray report which was released yesterday (May 25).
The report investigated the 16 events which were held at Downing Street, the Cabinet Office and the Department for Education while COVID restrictions were in place – attended by ministers including the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak.
It ultimately criticises the culture and leadership in Downing Street, which has also been criticised by many Brits who expressed anger at the behaviour of government officials during the lockdown.
A total of 16 events were investigated within the report which took place between May 2020 and April 2021 when COVID restrictions were in place. The Metropolitan police investigated 12 of the events and issued 126 fines to 83 people including the Prime Minister and Rishi Sunak.
Lanarkshire politicians have shared their thoughts and reactions to the report and the actions of Downing Street.
Uddingston and Bellshill MSP Stephanie Callaghan expressed her anger at the culture of partying which took place at Number 10 while COVID restrictions were enforced across the country.
She told Lanarkshire Live : “Ahead of today’s publication, I’ve been contacted by a number of constituents across Uddingston and Bellshill to express their fury at the Prime Minister for the culture of rule breaking which he presided over in Downing Street.
"The findings in this report prove beyond doubt that the Prime Minister lied to Parliament and to the public. While the rest of us endured the toughest of restrictions to keep each other safe, Boris Johnson was enjoying regular drinking sessions in Number 10.
“Sue Gray’s findings are unequivocal, the party culture at Downing Street during COVID was endemic and the flagrant law breaking was overseen by the Prime Minister.
“His behaviour has undermined the public’s trust in politicians and the work we do. I got into politics to improve the lives of the people I represent. Johnson on the other hand is more concerned about the power and privilege his position brings, more concerned about protecting himself and his cronies.”
And she went on: “His position is completely untenable. Both Johnson and Sunak must resign and if they won’t go voluntarily, then I again implore Tory MPs, including Douglas Ross to force them out.”
East Kilbride MSP Collette Stevenson also condemned the Prime Minister for his actions. She said: “Boris Johnson has to go. He has lied to Parliament and to the public, and in the report has been criticised for a failure of leadership and must ultimately bear responsibility. If he doesn’t resign then it is incumbent his Tory colleagues do the right thing and have him removed from office. People deserve better.”
Also commenting on the publication of the Sue Gray report, Christina McKelvie – the MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse – said: “This report makes it crystal clear that Boris Johnson lied to the Parliament and the public. It is utterly damning and the sordid details including in it highlight just how deep the culture of drinking and rule breaking goes in number 10.
“The Prime Minister shames his office and the contempt he showed to every single person who followed the rules is a disgrace. Those living in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse stuck to the rules: they stayed away from family, missed funerals and lost loved ones. Boris Johnson and his party expect that these people will just accept that it is one rule for them and another for everyone else.
“One of the crucial things the report highlights is that this utter failure of leadership came from the very top – and it is those at the top who must answer for it. Boris Johnson should resign and if he fails to do so then Tory MPs should remove him from office.”
Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey said: “This report is utterly damning, and the findings also once again expose Boris Johnson’s lies to Parliament and to the public.
“The Prime Minister’s misconduct brings shame on the office he currently clings on to. He has displayed contempt – not only to Parliament – but to every single person who followed the rules: those who stayed away from family, those who missed funerals, those who lost someone they loved.
“The failure of leadership came directly from the top. And the Prime Minister – in the words of the report – must bear responsibility for the culture.
“If the Prime Minister refuses to do the right thing and resign then it is incumbent upon Tory MPs, including their flip-flopping Scottish Leader, Douglas Ross MP, to step up and to finally do the right thing and remove him from office.
“The bottom line is that the longer they leave Boris Johnson in office the more damage they will do to public trust in this out of touch and broken UK government.”
MSP for Clydesdale Mairi McAllan, said: “This report is utterly damning and the sordid details highlight the culture of boozy rule-breaking that Boris Johnson presided over.
“The Prime Minister’s misconduct brings shame on the office he currently clings on to. He has displayed contempt – not only to Parliament – but to every single person who followed the rules: those who stayed away from family, those who missed funerals, those who lost someone they loved.
“The failure of leadership came directly from the top. And the Prime Minister – in the words of the report – must bear responsibility for the culture.
“If the Prime Minister refuses to do the right thing and resign then it is incumbent upon Tory MPs to step up and to finally do the right thing and remove him from office.
“The bottom line is that the longer they leave Boris Johnson in office the more damage they will do to public trust in this out of touch and broken UK government.”
Lanark and Hamilton East MP, Angela Crawley also expressed her annoyance with the events. She said: “I am appalled to hear the latest revelations following the publication of Sue Gray’s report into lockdown parties at Downing Street.
“While my constituents and millions of people across the country followed the rules his government set in order to protect lives, the Prime Minister partied as if everything was normal and then lied about it.
“Boris Johnson must resign as Prime Minister immediately. For every hour he stays in the post, he erodes public trust in our democracy further.
“It is, quite frankly, ridiculous to be calling for his resignation yet again. His time as Prime Minister will go down in history as one of the worst.”
Responding to the publication of the Sue Gray report, Airdrie and Shotts MP Anum Qaisar said: “This report is shocking and highlights the culture of rule breaking within Downing Street.
“The findings once again show the contempt that Boris Johnson holds for Parliament and the public. His initial insistence that no parties took place in Downing Street makes a mockery of all those who followed the rules during lockdown.
“Airdrie and Shotts constituents have made immense sacrifices during the pandemic whilst Boris Johnson partied at Downing Street. Several of my constituents have shared heart-breaking stories with me about losing loved ones whilst following the rules. I recently shared some of these stories at Westminster.
“It is clear that Boris Johnson broke the law. The failure of leadership came directly from the top.
"And the Prime Minister – in the words of the report – must bear responsibility for the culture. He must resign.”
Also commenting on the report is Motherwell and Wishaw MSP Clare Adamson, who said: “He has presided over a culture of partying and lawbreaking at the heart of Government.
“The indifference, arrogance, and contempt he has shown for the righteous anger of the people he is there to represent speaks volumes for his lack of morality.
“We have long known he is unfit for office. His presence in Downing Street undermines our democratic institutions.
“They partied while thousands mourned. And the disgusting treatment of cleaning and security staff at Downing Street epitomises the man, and this corrupt administration, devoid of decency.
“What more is there to say? The sooner he is gone, the better. I hope his Tory acolytes find a backbone before he does any more damage.”
Airdrie and Shotts MSP Fulton MacGregor, said: “The report published today lays clear that the Prime Minister broke his own laws while the rest of the country came together for the greater good. Nothing less than his immediate resignation should be tolerated by the public.
“The fact that he is attempting to shirk responsibility and continue on as if nothing happened is a grave insult to all those who sacrificed so much over the last two years.”
East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow MP Lisa Cameron, said: “I have written directly to the Prime Minister to relay just how appalled and let down my constituents feel regarding the behaviour reported at Number 10 outlined in the Gray report.
"Leadership was sadly lacking right at the time people across the country needed it most”
MSP for Central Scotland, Graham Simpson said: “The culture in Downing Street exposed by the Sue Gray report was disgraceful and appalling.
“There is simply no excuse for what was going there. The Prime Minister was present at a number of events that should not have been taking place and he should have closed them down.
“We were all bound by draconian rules that impacted very badly on families throughout the country and everyone in Downing Street, including the Prime Minister, should have been abiding by those rules.”
In response to the report, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “I want to begin today by renewing my apology to the House and to the whole country for the short lunchtime gathering on June 19, 2020 in the Cabinet Room, during which I stood at my place at the Cabinet table and for which I received a fixed penalty notice.
“I also want to say, above all, that I take full responsibility for everything that took place on my watch.
"Sue Gray’s report has emphasised that it is up to the political leadership in No. 10 to take ultimate responsibility, and, of course, I do.”
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