Following the Met’s confirmation it will investigate the Downing Street parties, multiple sources are now saying Sue Gray’s report has been delayed and is no longer expected to arrive this week. According to the Times’ Steven Swinford, there is concern that releasing the report before the Met conduct their own investigation would effectively “pre-judge” the police findings. Downing Street is now in party purgatory…
UPDATE: Telegraph confirms Gray report delayed for months:
BREAKING
— Christopher Hope📝 (@christopherhope) January 25, 2022
Sue Gray will not publish her report until the Metropolitan Police have concluded their investigation, my colleague @benrileysmith reports.
The #partygate torture of Boris Johnson and his team will now go for months.
UPDATE II: No. 10 Spokesperson says the Gray report will continue to be published… in part. They say those elements subject to the Met police investigation will be “paused” however those that haven’t breached the Met threshold will continue to be investigated and published. The spokesperson couldn’t say whether those that are now under investigation by the Met will be picked back up by Sue Gray after the Met investigation have been concluded. They claim the pause is “standard practice.”
Asked about why the PM didn’t tell Cabinet about Dick’s impending investigation announcement, despite Guido’s story coming out prior to Cabinet, No. 10 spokesperson said he wouldn’t comment on leaked reports. Cabinet members angry that they weren’t informed of the news by PM.
UPDATE III: Sky’s Sam Coates now saying the full report could still be published in full after all:
“With no objection from the Met Police, Gray must now weigh up what to publish/when. This could mean everything is out in days. This is an evolution of earlier situation… A final decision has yet to be taken Gray will consult with lawyers and some officials. The Prime Minister and political advisers in No10 are NOT part of this decision…”
The Met making it clear they’re not getting in the way…
