Prime Minister Boris Johnson (Stefan Rousseau/PA)
(Picture: PA Wire)Boris Johnson has come under fire across Westminster in the wake of the publication of Sue Gray’s report into the numerous gatherings held in Whitehall and Downing Street.
Ms Gray’s report criticised the “failure of leadership” by No10 which has sparked outrage from politicians.
Speaking in the Commons, Sir Keir said the British public believe Mr Johnson “do the decent thing and resign”.
He further claimed the Prime Minister had “frayed the bond of trust between the Government and the public”.
Everyone knows Boris Johnson broke the rules and lied to the country. It’s time Conservative MPs did their patriotic duty, listened to their constituents and stood up for decency by sacking Boris Johnson. He must go before he does our country any more harm.
— Ed Davey MP 🔶 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 (@EdwardJDavey) January 31, 2022
Nick Thomas-Symonds, Shadow Secretary for international Trade, claimed it was a day of shame for Mr Johnson.
He added: “The Sue Gray report confirms that twelve of the sixteen ‘gatherings’ are now subject to investigation by the Metropolitan Police.
“It’s a day of shame for Boris Johnson - a complete failure of leadership. If he had any decency he would resign.”
During this crisis, our country needed a leader more than at any time since the Second World War.
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) January 31, 2022
We didn’t get one.
This report shows what we have known all along: The Prime Minister is a coward, a rule-breaker and needs to step down.#SueGrayReport
Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, Angela Rayner added: “Boris Johnson has to go.
"I think it's absolutely appalling and astonishing, it's not the full report, it's just an update, we haven't even had the worst of it yet."
On 1 December @BorisJohnson told the Commons ‘all the guidelines were observed.’ Sue Gray’s ‘update’ may be short on details but she’s already proved he lied. That is and always has been an automatic resignation issue.
— Chris Bryant (@RhonddaBryant) January 31, 2022
In the House of Commons, Mr Johnson promised to overhaul the operation in Downing Street and the Cabinet Office to address the concerns raised in Sue Gray’s report.
In his own words, he said: “I get it and I will fix it.”
He said in the Commons: “We asked people across this country to make the most extraordinary sacrifices - not to meet loved ones, not to visit relatives before they died, and I understand the anger that people feel.
"But it isn't enough to say sorry. This is a moment when we must look at ourselves in the mirror and we must learn.
"While the Metropolitan Police must yet complete their investigation, and that means there are no details of specific events in Sue Gray's report, I of course accept Sue Gray's general findings in full, and above all her recommendation that we must learn from these events and act now."
Although parts of Ms Gray’s report were redacted, of the 16 gatherings being referenced, 12 of those have met the threshold to be investigated by the Met Police.
Due to the Met’s involvement, Ms Gray said she could only provide minimal reference to the gatherings on the dates they are investigating.
Despite that, the civil servant did claim the excessive consumption of alcohol and use of the Downing Street Garden were not appropriate.
