Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he takes “full responsibility” for all parties held in Downing Street during the Covid lockdown as he faces pressure from across Stirling’s political spectrum to resign.
Senior civil servant Sue Gray published her damning report into the series of boozy parties hosted at Number 10 and at Whitehall whilst the rest of the nation were locked down.
It follows the conclusion of a separate inquiry by the Met Police into the Covid rule-breaking events at the heart of government, which saw a total of 83 people receive at least one fixed-penalty notice each for attending events over eight separate days.
Following the publication of the report on Wednesday, Mr Johnson addressed Ministers in the House of Commons, in which he said: “I take full responsibility for everything that took place on my watch.”
Tory MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Alexander Stewart previously called for Mr Johnson to resign over the scandal. He this week told the Observer: “My position has not changed; I continue my disappointment, disgust and dismay at the behaviour of Boris Johnson and all those involved.
“The Sue Gray report makes for some very uncomfortable reading and if I was the Prime Minister, I would be seriously considering my position.”
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Stirling’s SNP MP Alyn Smith said the details contained within the report shows an “institutional rot at the heart of the UK government”.
He said: “The fact that key staffers were giving security and cleaning staff abuse for highlighting unlawful behaviour is appalling, and speaks to the institutional rot at the heart of the UK government.
“We truly have seen the death of shame in UK politics.
“Stirling and Scotland face a cost of living crisis, and our response requires credible leadership and competent government. It’s clear we’ll see neither from the UK government or this failure of a Prime Minister.
“It’s clear only an independent Scotland within the European Union can tackle the great challenges and opportunities facing us. I’m convinced the ongoing circus at the top of Westminster only reinforces how dysfunctional the UK really is.”
Mid Scotland and Fife Green MSP Mark Ruskell said the finding show Boris Johnson’s “contempt” for the public. Mr Ruskell added: “At a time when people in Stirling and across the UK were making unbelievable sacrifices, Boris Johnson and his entourage were living it up, breaking the rules, and laughing about it, time after time.
“The Prime Minister’s behaviour is bad enough on its own. But, his constant and repeated lying, to parliament and the public, cannot be tolerated.
“Boris Johnson must be held to account for this appalling behaviour. He can no longer remain in post.
“If Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross wishes to salvage any remnant of self-respect, he must end his pathetic equivocation and resubmit his letter calling for Johnson to go.”
Mid Scotland and Fife Tory MSP Dean Lockhart refused to comment on the report.
On Monday, photographs were released of the Prime Minister raising a glass at one of the illegal gatherings.
Mr Johnson received a fine for a gathering to mark his 56th birthday in June 2020 when indoor mixing was banned, along with his wife Carrie Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak.
Sue Gray’s damaging report told how on one occasion, a party was held on May 20, at which Downing Street staff were advised to “bring your own booze”.
On June 18, 2020, there was a gathering in the Cabinet Office at Whitehall to mark the departure of a Number 10 official. There was alcohol, food and music and the report noted that one person attending was sick.
On December 10, 2020, a Christmas part was held whilst the nation was enduring its second lockdown, which required people to stay at home and prohibited indoor gatherings of two or more people.
The gathering took place in the Department for Education. The Secretary of State for Education wanted to thank staff for their hard work ahead of the Christmas break. Senior officials and special advisers attended and there was food and alcohol available.
On December 18, 2020, a gathering lasting several hours took place in the Number 10 press office. Between 20 and 45 individuals attended over the course of the evening to celebrate the end of year and Christmas and included a ‘secret Santa’ and an awards ceremony as well as alcohol and food.
On April 16, 2021, two separate leaving events took place in Number 10, one for director of communications, James Slack and one for a senior official. Alcohol was available at both events and there were speeches, with senior officials in attendance. Both groups met in the garden later that evening. The events lasted for several hours, but the Prime Minister was not in residence.
The report added: ‘A number of individuals gathered near a child’s swing/slide in the garden, damaging it by leaning on and playing with it. This was noticed the next morning and reported to Number 10 staff.’
It went on: ‘I found that some staff had witnessed or been subjected to behaviours at work which they had felt concerned about but at times felt unable to raise properly. I was made aware of multiple examples of a lack of respect and poor treatment of security and cleaning staff. This was unacceptable.’
