A watered-down investigation into parties held in Downing Street during the pandemic has cited 'failures of leadership' and that a number of the gatherings should not have taken place.
Top civil servant Sue Gray has been investigating multiple reports of lockdown-breaking events held in Whitehall during the lockdowns - with the Metropolitan Police also investigating numerous incidents.
The police involvement means that the report published by Ms Gray today has been significantly watered down - but still contain some damning judgements on the actions of those within Number 10.
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In her general findings, Ms Gray said: "Against the backdrop of the pandemic, when the Government was asking citizens to accept far-reaching restrictions on their lives, some of the behaviour surrounding these gatherings is difficult to justify.
"At least some of the gatherings in question represent a serious failure to observe not just the high standards expected of those working at the heart of government but also of the standards expected of the entire British population at the time.
"At times it seems there was too little thought given to what was happening across the country in considering the appropriateness of some of these gatherings, the risks they presented to public health and how they might appear to the public."
She said there were 'failures of leadership and judgment by different parts of No 10 and the Cabinet Office at different times' and added that "Some of the events should not have been allowed to take place, while others should not have been allowed to develop as they did."
Ms Gray also criticised the 'excessive consumption of alcohol' in Downing Street as 'not appropriate in a professional workplace at any time' - calling for a robust new policy on the matter.
She made specific reference to reports of gatherings in the Downing Street garden, adding: "The use of the garden at No 10 Downing Street should be primarily for the Prime Minister and the private residents of No 10 and No 11 Downing Street.
"During the pandemic it was often used as an extension of the workplace as a more covid secure means of holding group meetings in a ventilated space.
"This was a sensible measure that staff appreciated, but the garden was also used for gatherings without clear authorisation or oversight. This was not appropriate. Any official access to the space, including for meetings, should be by invitation only and in a controlled environment."
Ms Gray said that her investigations found that some Number 10 staff wanted to raise concerns about behaviours they witnessed at work, but at times felt unable to do so.
She added: "There should be easier ways 8for staff to raise such concerns informally, outside of the line management chain."
In the conclusion of her short 12-page report, Ms Gray wrote: "The gatherings within the scope of this investigation are spread over a 20-monthperiod – a period that has been unique in recent times in terms of the complexity and breadth of the demands on public servants and indeed the general public.
"The whole of the country rose to the challenge. Ministers, special advisers and the Civil Service, of which I am proud to be a part, were a key and dedicated part of that national effort. However, as I have noted, a number of these gatherings should not have been allowed to take place or to develop in the way that they did.
"There is significant learning to be drawn from these events which must be addressed immediately across Government. This does not need to wait for the police investigations to be concluded."
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