The prime ministership of the UK's leader, Boris Johnson, is under pressure after a report into parties held at his office and residence during lockdown.
While most of the United Kingdom battled through coronavirus restrictions aimed at curbing deaths over the past two years, continued reports have emerged of staffers — and in some cases Mr Johnson himself — attending potentially illegal gatherings at Number 10 Downing Street.
A report into the allegations has now concluded there was a "failure of leadership" over the parties and pressure is mounting on the British PM as police continue to investigate some gatherings.
Here's the background.
What did Boris Johnson's office do?
Late last year, reports began to emerge of gatherings — often where multiple people drank alcohol together — on the premises of No 10 Downing Street, where the Prime Minister of the UK lives and works.
At the time of many gatherings, the UK was under restrictions that required most people to remain in their homes unless meeting an exemption category like going to work.
The reports included claims of a "bring your own booze" event attended by the Prime Minister, "wine time Fridays" and an allegation staff brought a suitcase full of alcohol and danced until the early hours of the morning.
The gatherings in question included:
- Several farewells for staff
- A gathering on the day before the funeral of Prince Philip
- A gathering on Mr Johnson's birthday
- Christmas get-togethers, including online quizzes
While staffers were entitled to attend work at No 10, many of the gatherings blurred the lines between work and play, igniting anger in the British public, which had largely complied with restrictions in the hope of saving lives.
When details of the parties started to emerge, Mr Johnson commissioned an investigation by senior civil servant Sue Gray, however soon after, the London Metropolitan Police also announced they were investigating Downing Street for potential breaches.
What did the investigation find?
The interim findings released overnight Australian time found "failures of leadership and judgement" in various parts of No 10 and the UK Cabinet Office but could not draw more specific conclusions.
The report did not examine whether the conduct of people inside No 10 broke the law.
Ms Gray's investigation was meant to look into 16 separate gatherings on 12 dates across the pandemic, however, she was unable to examine conduct on eight of those dates due to the ongoing police investigation.
She openly acknowledged that meant her report was hampered.
However, among the report's general conclusions were that "a number of these gatherings should not have been allowed to take place or to develop in the way that they did".
"At least some of the gatherings in question represent a serious failure to observe not just the high standards expected of those working at the heart of government but also of the standards expected of the entire British population at the time," she wrote.
The Metropolitan Police investigation is continuing.
What now for Boris Johnson?
For weeks, Mr Johnson has faced calls to resign over the scandal, including from members of his own party.
While he has refused to stand aside, he has apologised multiple times for the breaches, most recently in response to the Gray report.
"Sorry for the things we simply did not get right and sorry for the way that this matter has been handled," he told the House of Commons, pledging to improve the culture at No 10.
Last week, former Brexit minister David Davis publicly called on Mr Johnson to resign, telling him "in the name of God, go!"
Others have since withdrawn their support for him as leader.
Many MPs had said they would wait for Ms Gray's report before deciding on whether to withdraw their support for Mr Johnson.
Some political commentators have suggested the neutered report presented by Ms Gray may not be damaging enough to spell the end of his prime ministership.
"It avoided some of the most damaging outcomes that we might have expected," said Alex Thomas, program director at the Institute for Government think tank.
"But in a way the more you read it, the more you look at the descriptions of the culture and the failings of leadership, the more damaging it was."
The Prime Minister's spokesman has said that Mr Johnson does not believe he has broken the law.
ABC/AP
