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Sue Gray report: Details of Kate Joseph's lockdown party emerge | Sue Gray report: Details of Kate Joseph's lockdown party emerge |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Kate Josephs left the Cabinet Office to work for Sheffield City Council | Kate Josephs left the Cabinet Office to work for Sheffield City Council |
More than 20 people attended a leaving party thrown in honour of a council boss during lockdown, it has emerged. | More than 20 people attended a leaving party thrown in honour of a council boss during lockdown, it has emerged. |
The December 2020 event in Whitehall was held to mark Kate Joseph's Cabinet Office departure before she become Sheffield City Council chief executive. | The December 2020 event in Whitehall was held to mark Kate Joseph's Cabinet Office departure before she become Sheffield City Council chief executive. |
Sue Gray's long-awaited report says efforts were made to encourage social distancing and Covid-secure conditions but these were not observed by guests. | Sue Gray's long-awaited report says efforts were made to encourage social distancing and Covid-secure conditions but these were not observed by guests. |
After its publication, Ms Josephs apologised again for attending. | After its publication, Ms Josephs apologised again for attending. |
The former Covid taskforce boss remains on paid leave from her £190,000-a-year council role, with a committee set up to decide on her future due to reconvene soon. | The former Covid taskforce boss remains on paid leave from her £190,000-a-year council role, with a committee set up to decide on her future due to reconvene soon. |
In her latest statement, published on Twitter, Ms Josephs reiterated her previous "sincere and unequivocal" apology. | In her latest statement, published on Twitter, Ms Josephs reiterated her previous "sincere and unequivocal" apology. |
She said she continued to co-operate fully with the council's investigation and would not comment further until it was completed. | She said she continued to co-operate fully with the council's investigation and would not comment further until it was completed. |
Ms Gray's report states that Ms Josephs and another official had wished to mark their departure from the civil service and had discussed it with Second Permanent Secretary James Bowler. | Ms Gray's report states that Ms Josephs and another official had wished to mark their departure from the civil service and had discussed it with Second Permanent Secretary James Bowler. |
He advised a party could take place - on the condition it was time-limited, socially distanced and that no-one should travel into the office for the event, according to the report. | He advised a party could take place - on the condition it was time-limited, socially distanced and that no-one should travel into the office for the event, according to the report. |
Partygate: What's in the Sue Gray report? | Partygate: What's in the Sue Gray report? |
Insiders tell of packed lockdown parties at No 10 | Insiders tell of packed lockdown parties at No 10 |
Council boss party probe report heard in private | Council boss party probe report heard in private |
Ms Gray said an official sent an invitation to about 40 members of staff on Ms Joseph's behalf on 16 December, with the event scheduled for the next day. | Ms Gray said an official sent an invitation to about 40 members of staff on Ms Joseph's behalf on 16 December, with the event scheduled for the next day. |
It began between 19:00 and 20:00 GMT, with "more than 20 staff" in attendance, to whom Mr Bowler gave a speech thanking Ms Josephs before returning to his office. | It began between 19:00 and 20:00 GMT, with "more than 20 staff" in attendance, to whom Mr Bowler gave a speech thanking Ms Josephs before returning to his office. |
"The intention was to follow the social distancing guidance by observing a one-way system, social distancing and other precautionary measures," Ms Gray wrote. | "The intention was to follow the social distancing guidance by observing a one-way system, social distancing and other precautionary measures," Ms Gray wrote. |
"This did not happen." | "This did not happen." |
Senior civil servant Sue Gray's report on parties held in Downing Street and Whitehall during lockdown has been published | Senior civil servant Sue Gray's report on parties held in Downing Street and Whitehall during lockdown has been published |
Ms Gray found people had gathered in small groups, had mingled with each other and food and alcoholic drinks were available. | Ms Gray found people had gathered in small groups, had mingled with each other and food and alcoholic drinks were available. |
The event began to wind down between 22.00 and 22.30, however, Ms Gray said at least one member of staff went to No 10 Downing Street to attend a separate event before returning. | The event began to wind down between 22.00 and 22.30, however, Ms Gray said at least one member of staff went to No 10 Downing Street to attend a separate event before returning. |
She said most people left between 23:00 and 23:30 after pizzas had been ordered. | She said most people left between 23:00 and 23:30 after pizzas had been ordered. |
"Some others, including Kate Josephs, left later at around 00.23 after tidying up," the report adds. | "Some others, including Kate Josephs, left later at around 00.23 after tidying up," the report adds. |
Sheffield City Council's Labour leader Terry Fox said the report painted a picture which would "anger people across the country and in Sheffield". | |
He said the Cabinet Office event had been held while communities were making "massive sacrifices" but the cross-party committee would have to meet again before a decision could be made. | |
"We've all had to wait for the process to be followed properly and we must continue to let the committee do its work," he said. | |
"It's absolutely vital we get this right for Sheffield and all involved." | |
Neither Ms Josephs nor the council has confirmed if she was among those fined by Scotland Yard after its investigations into the Partygate scandal. | Neither Ms Josephs nor the council has confirmed if she was among those fined by Scotland Yard after its investigations into the Partygate scandal. |
If Sheffield City Council's committee decides Ms Josephs should be dismissed, its recommendation will be put to a full vote with all 84 councillors present. | If Sheffield City Council's committee decides Ms Josephs should be dismissed, its recommendation will be put to a full vote with all 84 councillors present. |
The investigation has been carried out in private and the council says there is a rigid process it must follow for any statutory officer. | The investigation has been carried out in private and the council says there is a rigid process it must follow for any statutory officer. |
Analysis | Analysis |
By Lucy Ashton, political reporter, BBC Radio Sheffield | By Lucy Ashton, political reporter, BBC Radio Sheffield |
We now know the full details of Kate Josephs' leaving party after she was personally named in the Sue Gray report. | We now know the full details of Kate Josephs' leaving party after she was personally named in the Sue Gray report. |
What we don't know is whether she will remain as chief executive of Sheffield Council. | What we don't know is whether she will remain as chief executive of Sheffield Council. |
It's been four months since she admitted on Twitter that she had attended a Whitehall party during Covid restrictions. | It's been four months since she admitted on Twitter that she had attended a Whitehall party during Covid restrictions. |
Sheffield Council says it had to follow stringent guidelines which resulted in an independent investigator being called in. | Sheffield Council says it had to follow stringent guidelines which resulted in an independent investigator being called in. |
There is no information about when a decision will finally be made and the council has not said who the investigator is, what their remit is or what it is costing. | There is no information about when a decision will finally be made and the council has not said who the investigator is, what their remit is or what it is costing. |
The process has dragged on and with the Sue Gray report now published, Sheffield will be impatiently waiting for a decision one way or another. | The process has dragged on and with the Sue Gray report now published, Sheffield will be impatiently waiting for a decision one way or another. |
Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. |
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