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Sue Gray not expected to wait for police inquiry before delivering report Downing Street parties: Sue Gray won't wait for police inquiry
(32 minutes later)
Sue Gray is expected to deliver her report on No 10 parties to the PM without waiting for the police inquiry to conclude, the BBC has been told.Sue Gray is expected to deliver her report on No 10 parties to the PM without waiting for the police inquiry to conclude, the BBC has been told.
The Met Police had asked Ms Gray to make only "minimal reference" to "relevant events" in order to "protect the integrity" of its investigation. The senior civil servant is expected to hand her report to the prime minister shortly, however no exact timescale has been given.
This has led to concerns Ms Gray's report could be delayed. It comes after days of confusion over when the report would be published.
It is unclear what details may need to be omitted from the report, following the Met's request. The Met Police has denied its investigation is to blame for any delay.
The BBC has been told the report is expected to be delivered to the prime minister shortly, however no exact timescale has been given. The police had asked for minimal references to be made to the events they are investigating, meaning the report Ms Gray releases before the police probe is complete may need to contain some redactions, or be changed.
Downing Street has not yet received the report. Downing Street has yet to receive the document, which it has promised to publish.
Police to investigate No 10 lockdown partiesPolice to investigate No 10 lockdown parties
Why has Sue Gray's report not appeared yet?Why has Sue Gray's report not appeared yet?
Earlier today, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer called for the report to be published in full and the investigations to be wrapped up as soon as possible.Earlier today, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer called for the report to be published in full and the investigations to be wrapped up as soon as possible.
The SNP and Liberal Democrats are claiming the delay in publication is a "stitch-up" aimed at keeping Boris Johnson in power.The SNP and Liberal Democrats are claiming the delay in publication is a "stitch-up" aimed at keeping Boris Johnson in power.
The report is seen as key to Mr Johnson's political future with many of its own Conservative MPs saying they will wait for its publication before deciding whether to take action against the prime minister.The report is seen as key to Mr Johnson's political future with many of its own Conservative MPs saying they will wait for its publication before deciding whether to take action against the prime minister.
Mr Johnson has been under pressure following a string of allegations about events held in Downing Street and other government premises during coronavirus restrictions.Mr Johnson has been under pressure following a string of allegations about events held in Downing Street and other government premises during coronavirus restrictions.
It has already been confirmed that the events Ms Gray is looking into include a "bring-your-own-booze" drinks event in the No 10 garden in May 2020 attended by Mr Johnson, and a staff gathering to celebrate the PM's birthday in June 2020.
On Tuesday, Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick announced that the force was investigating.
In a statement released on Friday, the Met Police clarified that they expected to approach individuals "identified as having potentially breached" regulations in writing.
Commander Catherine Roper, who leads the Met's Central Specialist Crime Command, said "the offences under investigation, where proven, would normally result in the issuing of a fixed penalty notice".
She added that the Met's actions would be "proportionate to the nature of these offences".
Material from the Cabinet Office was received by the Met on Friday, which the force requested to "support its investigation into potential breaches of Covid-19 regulations at a number of events in Downing Street and Whitehall".
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Politicians will move on from the Downing Street parties and want the families of those lost to Covid to move on says Fran Hall
The SNP's Westminster leader, Ian Blackford, said: ""If the UK Government refuses to publish the full unredacted report it will prove, yet again, that Westminster is utterly corrupt and broken beyond repair.
"It won't save Boris Johnson's skin. It will only add to the calls for him to go."
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: "Anything short of the full report would be a Whitehall whitewash not worth the paper it is written on."
And Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: "What I want to see is Sue Gray's report in full and the investigation finished as quickly as possible".
Sir Roger Gale, who is among the Tory MPs to have publicly called for the PM to resign, described the latest developments as a "farce" which could delay a possible challenge to the "lame duck" prime minister.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's The World At One, he added that unless there is a "legal barrier", the senior official should publish her report "now and in full".
Asked by the BBC's Nick Robinson if the police's statement had been helpful to Mr Johnson, senior minister Jacob Rees-Mogg said: "It would be a very eccentric conspiracy theorist who thought that the prime minister being investigated by the police is beneficial for the prime minister - that is parallel universe stuff."