Civil servant Sue Gray has taken aim at “senior” political leaders for the Downing Street culture that led to the partygate booze scandal.
In a clear dig at the Prime Minister, Gray said top figures in Number 10 and the Cabinet must take responsibility for the lockdown parties she uncovered.
She also revealed security and cleaning staff had been subjected to “poor treatment” in relation to the events.
Gray’s 60 page partygate report, publication of which was delayed due to a police investigation, centred on sixteen gatherings held while covid restrictions were in place.
Over 100 fixed penalty notices have already been issued by the police, one of which was for Boris Johnson.
In a damning conclusion, Gray wrote: “I have already commented in my update on what I found to be failures of leadership and judgment in No 10 and the Cabinet Office. The events that I investigated were attended by leaders in government. Many of these events should not have been allowed to happen.
“It is also the case that some of the more junior civil servants believed that their involvement in some of these events was permitted given the attendance of senior leaders. The senior leadership at the centre, both political and official, must bear responsibility for this culture.”
She added: “I found that some staff had witnessed or been subjected to behaviours at work which they had felt concerned about but at times felt unable to raise properly. I was made aware of multiple examples of a lack of respect and poor treatment of security and cleaning staff. This was unacceptable.
On the booze culture, she said: “I also made a recommendation that steps should be taken to ensure that every Government Department has a clear and robust policy in place covering the consumption of alcohol in the workplace. Since then guidance has been issued to all Government Departments.”
Gray also wrote: “Many will be dismayed that behaviour of this kind took place on this scale at the heart of Government. The public have a right to expect the very highest standards of behaviour in such places and clearly what happened fell well short of this.
“It is my firm belief, however, that these events did not reflect the prevailing culture in Government and the Civil Service at the time. Many thousands of people up and down the country worked tirelessly to deliver in unprecedented times.”
To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here.
