By Tony O’Reilly-
Sue Gray’s report into Covid breaching lockdown parties in Downing Street will be released by “the end of May,” at the earliest according to reports.
The senior civil servant is understood to be working towards the end of May as the most likely timetable for completing her report. sources have told the Guardian.
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Ms Gray was forced to delay her Partygate report while the Metropolitan Police completed its investigation into the events in Downing Street, which Scotland Yard confirmed it would not update until the end of the local elections.
The report by Sue Gray, a senior civil servant, is understood to be highly critical of Johnson, both for attending some of the events and the culture in No 10 under his leadership.
Opposition leaders have called for Boris Johnson to resign, following the revelations of partygate, but the prime minister , who has a majority support in the Commons has had many Mps rally round him, offering a hand of support.
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A number of politicians have pointed to the seriousness of the present war in Ukraine , stating it to be the wrong time for any country’s leader to resign, adding that Johnson is playing an important leading role in supporting Ukraine.
Witing Game: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson (Image: Getty Images)
Others have said that the war in Ukraine is not a good reason to keep the prime minister in power if he has broken the rules.
It comes as a separate report revealed Sue Gray’s “excoriating” findings could force Boris Johnson to resign.
According to The Times, the official said: “Sue’s report is excoriating. It will make things incredibly difficult for the Prime Minister.
“There’s an immense amount of pressure on her — her report could be enough to end him.”
The head of the civil service is reported to have privately warned Boris Johnson against forcing government officials to stop working from home, amid anger at ministers’ rhetoric over post-Covid office arrangements in Whitehall.
It emerged over the weekend that Jacob Rees-Mogg, who in addition to his role overseeing “Brexit opportunities” is also in charge of “government efficiency”, had been leaving notes on civil servants’ empty desks, telling them he looked “forward to seeing you in the office very soon”.
In addition to the notes, which he left after writing to fellow ministers demanding they send “a clear message” to civil servants in their departments “to ensure a rapid return to the office”, Mr Rees Mogg has also published a league table showing the number of officials at their desks on an average day.
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