Five unanswered questions from Sue Gray’s report

At long last, it’s finally here. This afternoon’s release of Sue Gray’s report into the Downing Street parties marks the end of weeks of speculation as to the contents of the senior civil servant’s findings. Gray’s investigation was a mere eight pages, much of which focused on the Covid timeline and her report’s terms of reference. 

Initial reaction is still coming in but it seems that her summary is set to please no one: the belated decision by the Met to open their own investigation prevented Gray from commenting on the most serious potential breaches. This means that Boris-backers are denied the chance to brush off the saga and move on, while his critics are denied the smoking gun they desperately craved.

Among the more damning comments in Gray’s report include claims of a ‘failure of leadership in No. 10 and Cabinet office,’ a ‘serious failure to observe high standards expected,’ the ‘excessive consumption of alcohol’ with ‘behaviour difficult to justify.’