The long-awaited report into events at Downing Street and within Whitehall which broke lockdown rules has now been published.
The report was handed by the Cabinet Office to Downing Street on Monday.
In it the senior civil servant tasked with looking into the issues, Sue Gray, said it could not be a "meaningful report" because she was "extremely limited" in what she could say due to the Met Police investigating four events.
Read more : Live updates and reaction with our rolling coverage here and read Boris Johnson's full statement in response here
The report said: "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. There were failures of leadership and judgement by different parts of No 10 and the Cabinet Office at different times. Some of the events should not have been allowed to take place.
"Other events should not have been allowed to develop as they did."
She criticised leadership at Downing Street and the fact that alcohol was consumed. "The excessive consumption of alcohol is not appropriate in a professional workplace at any time," the report found.
Here's what we learnt from the report
There were 'serious failures'
"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," found Ms Gray.
'The events should not have been allowed to take place'
Ms Gray said the events were not given enough thought and were a risk to public health.
"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.
"There were failures of leadership and judgement by different parts of No 10 and the Cabinet Office at different times. Some of the events should not have been allowed to take place. Other events should not have been allowed to develop as they did."
The garden was used 'without clear authorisation or oversight'
"The garden at number 10 was featured in a number of the allegations and a photograph leaked to The Guardian.
"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."
This is not about breaking the law
We know the Met has asked Ms Gray to publish "minimal" details of the events it is investigating.
With that in mind she says in her report is simply to fact-find and is not "it is not for me to make a judgement on whether the criminal law has been broken".
"In respect of the gatherings that the Metropolitan Police has assessed as not reaching the threshold for criminal investigation; they have not requested any limitations be placed on the description of those events, however, I have decided not to publish factual accounts in relation to those four dates. I do not feel that I am able to do so without detriment to the overall balance of the findings."
She also does not say whether any of the events were breaking guidance or regulations.
"I have not made comment on whether individual gatherings were in line with the relevant guidance and regulations in place at the time. I did not judge it appropriate to do so given the police investigation that is now underway."
Staff did not feel they could raise concerns
There have been questions about why it has taken two years for some of these allegations, emails, or pictures to come to light. Ms Gray said she found that some staff wanted to raise concerns before now but did not feel able to.
She interviewed 70 individuals but also saw "relevant documentary and digital information, such as emails; Whatsapp messages; text messages; photographs and building entry and exit logs".
She added: "Some staff wanted to raise concerns about behaviours they witnessed at work but at times felt unable to do so. No member of staff should feel unable to report or challenge poor conduct where they witness it. There should be easier ways for staff to raise such concerns informally, outside of the line management chain."
'Fragmented and complicated' leadership
In her report Ms Gray says that the number of staff in Downing Staff has grown and it is now more than just an office for the Prime Minister.
"The structures that support the smooth operation of Downing Street, however, have not evolved sufficiently to meet the demands of this expansion. The leadership structures are fragmented and complicated and this has sometimes led to the blurring of lines of accountability. Too much responsibility and expectation is placed on the senior official whose principal function is the direct support of the Prime Minister. This should be addressed as a matter of priority".
There had already been criticism of Martin Reynolds, the man who sent the now infamous email telling staff to "bring your own booze" to the Downing Street garden on May 20, 2020.
'Significant' lessons to be learnt
"The gatherings within the scope of this investigation are spread over a 20-month period – 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.
