Sue Gray's long-awaited report into lockdown busting parties in government was published today - and said Boris Johnson and other senior leaders must "bear responsibility" for the culture created.
The report, which is packed with messages and nine photos, said junior officials felt "permitted" to attend rule-breaking events that "should not have been allowed to happen" because "senior leaders" took part.
After claims No. 10 security were mocked for questioning the bashes, Ms Gray added: "I was made aware of multiple examples of a lack of respect and poor treatment of security and cleaning staff. This was unacceptable."
The nine photos published in the report are from two dates. They show the June 19, 2020 birthday party, where top civil servant Simon Case is laughing and Boris Johnson is holding a can of Estrella. They also show him raising fizz at aide Lee Cain's leaving do on November 13, 2020 - the date on which he explicitly said no party took place.
READ MORE: Sue Gray report LIVE as Boris Johnson faces partygate D-day
The report is filled with detail about how events were planned by staff, apparently in the full knowledge of how they would look to the law-abiding public. The e-mail inviting people the 20 May 2020 ‘bring your own booze’ garden party at No. 10 went to 200 staff - not 100 as previously reported.
And a No. 10 special advisor messaged top aide Martin Reynolds beforehand saying: “Just to flag that the press conference will probably be finishing around that time, so helpful if people can be mindful of that as speakers and cameras are leaving, not walking around waving bottles of wine etc.”
Then-No. 10 communications director Lee Cain emailed Mr Reynolds saying "I’m sure it will be fine - and I applaud the gesture" despite the fact "a 200 odd person invitation for drinks in the garden of no 10 is somewhat of a comms risk in the current environment.”
On another date Mr Reynolds - who’s already been ousted from No10 - emailed an advisor saying: “A complete non story but better than them focusing on our drinks (which we seem to have got away with)”.
The report finds Mr Reynolds - nicknamed 'Party Marty' and lined up as Ambassador to dry Saudi Arabia - also invited staff to the PM’s birthday party on June 19, 2020. He wrote: “We are having sandwiches and cake in the Cabinet room so do come along and wish the PM happy birthday.”
Ms Gray wrote: "The events that I investigated were attended by leaders in government.
"Many of these events should not have been allowed to happen. It is also the case that some of the more junior civil servants believed that their involvement in some of these events was permitted given the attendance of senior leaders.
"The senior leadership at the centre, both political and official, must bear responsibility for this culture."
But the report reveals Ms Gray discontinued her probe into a November 13, 2020 party in the No10 flat - at which allies of Carrie Johnson were said to have blasted Abba tunes.
After Scotland Yard didn't issue a fine, Ms Gray wrote: "I have taken the view that it would not be necessary, appropriate or proportionate to undertake any further investigation work following the conclusion of the work of the Metropolitan Police."
Boris Johnson is expected to give a statement to Parliament after PMQs at noon, followed by a press conference to the nation, and a speech to Tory backbench MPs.
Other scathing details include that “one individual was sick” at a karaoke leaving do on 18 June 2020 for No10 official Hannah Young. And the PM personally brought the cheese and wine from his flat for a 'BYOB' bash.
