‘Partygate’ probe slips to next week, with Johnson in limbo

Bloomberg

Publication of the UK government’s investigation into pandemic parties in Boris Johnson’s office has slipped to next week as officials debate what details need to be redacted after police opened their own inquiry.
Senior civil servant Sue Gray, who was commissioned by Johnson to look at allegations he and his staff broke lockdown rules with various gatherings in Downing Street, had been widely expected to hand over her report this week.
But the London Metropolitan Police decision to begin its own inquiry into the alleged parties has complicated matters, and led to discussions between officials over what can now be published and what should be withheld in the government’s own report.
Gray’s findings are likely to be released on Monday, according to a person familiar with the matter.
The next stage of the long-running “partygate” saga is likely to hinge on Gray’s report. Johnson is expected to make a statement to Parliament soon after it is released, while many lawmakers in his ruling Conservative Party have said they will wait for it before determining if they will mount a leadership challenge.
The police probe is also expected to influence what Johnson says in his statement to Parliament.
The prime minister is in North Wales on Thursday, and while that could in theory be canceled or shortened if the report from Gray is handed over, the timing suggests Downing Street is not expecting that to happen.
It remains “hypothetically possible” that Johnson could get it later Thursday, his spokesman, Max Blain, told reporters at a regular briefing. He also said the government intends to publish the report in the form it arrives from Gray, after a prominent Tory MP warned ministers not to “conceal” key details.
The delay has had one positive effect for Johnson: stifling the momentum of rebel Tory MPs determined to build enough support for a no-confidence vote in his leadership. It would take 54 of them, or 15% of the total, to do so.
With so many Tories saying they want to see Gray’s report, the rebels have been forced into a waiting game.