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Downing Street parties: Sue Gray won't wait for police inquiry Downing Street parties: Sue Gray won't wait for police inquiry
(about 1 hour 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 senior civil servant is set to hand her report to Downing Street shortly - though no exact date has been given.The senior civil servant is set to hand her report to Downing Street shortly - though no exact date has been given.
But police have asked for "minimal reference" to be made to events they are looking at, in order to "avoid any prejudice to our investigation".But police have asked for "minimal reference" to be made to events they are looking at, in order to "avoid any prejudice to our investigation".
Opposition parties have insisted the report is published in full.Opposition parties have insisted the report is published in full.
It was thought the report - into alleged lockdown-breaking parties in Downing Street and Whitehall - would be published earlier this week.It was thought the report - into alleged lockdown-breaking parties in Downing Street and Whitehall - would be published earlier this week.
Sue Gray report: What exactly is she looking at?Sue Gray report: What exactly is she looking at?
But on Tuesday, the Metropolitan Police announced it was investigating the parties and gatherings - seemingly delaying publication of Ms Gray's report.But on Tuesday, the Metropolitan Police announced it was investigating the parties and gatherings - seemingly delaying publication of Ms Gray's report.
And on Friday, the Met said: "For the events the Met is investigating, we asked for minimal reference to be made in the Cabinet Office report."And on Friday, the Met said: "For the events the Met is investigating, we asked for minimal reference to be made in the Cabinet Office report."
It added it did not ask for the report to be delayed, "but we have had ongoing contact with the Cabinet Office, including on the content of the report, to avoid any prejudice to our investigation".It added it did not ask for the report to be delayed, "but we have had ongoing contact with the Cabinet Office, including on the content of the report, to avoid any prejudice to our investigation".
This means the report Ms Gray releases before the police probe is complete may need to contain some redactions, or be changed.This means the report Ms Gray releases before the police probe is complete may need to contain some redactions, or be changed.
BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said he had been told Ms Gray was trying to redraft parts of her report to address any police concerns.BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said he had been told Ms Gray was trying to redraft parts of her report to address any police concerns.
But, he said, she wanted to avoid blanking out whole swathes of text in case it looked like "a Whitehall whitewash".But, he said, she wanted to avoid blanking out whole swathes of text in case it looked like "a Whitehall whitewash".
Downing Street is yet to receive the document, which it has promised to publish.Downing Street is yet to receive the document, which it has promised to publish.
Many Conservative MPs are saying they will wait for the publication before deciding whether to take action against the prime minister.Many Conservative MPs are saying they will wait for the publication before deciding whether to take action against the prime minister.
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Watch Dame Cressida Dick announce the Met Police's investigation into No 10 lockdown partiesWatch Dame Cressida Dick announce the Met Police's investigation into No 10 lockdown parties
Material from the Cabinet Office was received by the force on Friday. And, in a statement, the Met said it expected to approach individuals "identified as having potentially breached" regulations.Material from the Cabinet Office was received by the force on Friday. And, in a statement, the Met said it expected to approach individuals "identified as having potentially breached" regulations.
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".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".She added that the Met's actions would be "proportionate to the nature of these offences".
Former director of public prosecutions, Lord Macdonald, told the BBC that asking for Ms Gray's report to make only minimal reference to the gatherings being investigated by police seemed "disproportionate".Former director of public prosecutions, Lord Macdonald, told the BBC that asking for Ms Gray's report to make only minimal reference to the gatherings being investigated by police seemed "disproportionate".
Tory MP Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown told BBC Newsnight: "I think No 10, the Metropolitan Police, and Sue Gray should get round a table and work out a way that this report can be published in full, unredacted, so that not only MPs, but our constituents more importantly, can make a judgement on what has happened."
He added: "I think that's absolutely vital now, if this whole matter can be put bed which is what's really necessary - one way or the other."
Labour has called for the report to be published in full and the investigations to be wrapped up as soon as possible.Labour has 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.
If anything less than that full report emerges next week, we can expect even more condemnation from the opposition parties.If anything less than that full report emerges next week, we can expect even more condemnation from the opposition parties.
All this is crucial to the prime minister's political future because some Conservative MPs have been telling me that they're considering putting in a letter of no confidence once they've read Sue Gray's report.All this is crucial to the prime minister's political future because some Conservative MPs have been telling me that they're considering putting in a letter of no confidence once they've read Sue Gray's report.
If that report is shorn of all the serious allegations of what was going on in Downing Street, it may well be the case that they sit on their hands until the Met completes its work.If that report is shorn of all the serious allegations of what was going on in Downing Street, it may well be the case that they sit on their hands until the Met completes its work.
The opposition say this is obviously to the advantage of Boris Johnson - it buys him some time.The opposition say this is obviously to the advantage of Boris Johnson - it buys him some time.
But there's a bigger issue too, because it's not just the opposition politicians.But there's a bigger issue too, because it's not just the opposition politicians.
Some Conservatives are saying to me too that the way all this has been handled has further eroded public trust in the political system.Some Conservatives are saying to me too that the way all this has been handled has further eroded public trust in the political system.
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.
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.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.""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."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."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."