By Ben Kerrigan-
Embarassing details revealing that an individual threw up and a scuffle broke out at a No 10 official’s leaving do during Covid restrictions, have emerged from Sue Gray’s full report into Partygate.
The civil servant said there was “excessive alcohol consumption” by some who attended the event, which took place as England was emerging from a strict lockdown.
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Ms Gray’s report – published on Wednesday – sets out the shameful details of what transpired in each event. She made reference to a leaving party on 18 June 2020 at which “one individual was sick” and “there was a minor altercation between two other individuals”. At the time, two or more people were banned from meeting indoors at the time, with an exception allowed gatherings that were “reasonably necessary” for “work purposes”.
The government’s former head of ethics, Helen MacNamara, attended part of the evening’s event and even provided a karaoke machine, according to the comprehensive report into lockdown breaches .
“The event lasted for a number of hours, the report said. There was excessive alcohol consumption by some individuals. One individual was sick. There was a minor altercation between two other individuals.”
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It continued: “Whatever the initial intent, what took place at many of these gatherings and the way in which they developed was not in line with Covid guidance at the time,” the report says.
“Even allowing for the extraordinary pressures officials and advisers were under, the factual findings of this report illustrate some attitudes and behaviours inconsistent with that guidance.
Photos published in relation to the report focuses on two events; a gathering in the cabinet room on Mr Johnson’s birthday, and a gathering in No 10 to mark the departure of special adviser Lee Cain.
Ms Gray said the parties took of f from No 10, where leaving speeches were given and “some alcohol” was involved.
After an hour, she said the party moved to 70 Whitehall with “alcohol, food and music”. She said the second part of the leaving do started around 7.40pm and lasted “for a number of hours”.
“There was excessive alcohol consumption by some individuals. One individual was sick. There was a minor altercation between two other individuals.”
Ms Gray said the event broke up “in stages” with a few members of staff leaving from around 9pm. The final member of staff, who stayed to tidy up, left at 3.13am, she said.
The civil servant also looked at a party that took place on the eve of Prince Philip’s funeral, finding some individuals stayed on to carry on drinking alcohol “until the early hours”.
Serious Failure
She concluded there was a “serious failure” to abide by “standards expected of the entire British population” during the Covid pandemic.
“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 said.
Ms Gray had published a heavily-redacted “update” to her inquiry in January while the Metropolitan Police carried out its investigation into events held at No 10 and Whitehall during the Covid pandemic. The police probe resulted in 126 fines, including to the prime minister and chancellor.
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