BUT senior minister disputes claims that Sue Gray was forced to water down her report on parties breaking the law in Westminster, saying he was “sure” the investigation was completely independent.
Brandon Lewis, Northern Ireland secretary turned down suggestions that senior numbers in Downing Street pushed for in detail about the so-called “Abve party” in Boris Johnson’s apartment during lockdown and staff names to be stripped out.
The allegations were reported in The Sunday Times, which said that Gray lobbied to change key transitions of her report on the day before of its publication by three peopleStory by: Steve Barclay prime minister of staff, Simon Case, office secretary and Alex Chisholm, permanent secretary for Cabinet of Ministers.
Previously in week, according to The Guardian. how Conservative MPs feared that a “cover-up” had taken place.up” over Abba’s party, which Gray admits she hasn’t fully explored.
Lewis did not directly deny that Gray was pressured to change her report because he said he was not involved in it. in request, but said “anyone who worked in No. 10” knew that “this kind of of thing will not work”.
He told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday: “I’m sure, especially now that No. 10 is open made point and denied that it happened, that Sue Gray had the freedom to write a report that she was comfortable writing and publishing.”
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Given that the Metropolitan Police are not issue Any fixed-penalty notifications for in eventLewis said it was “supported by Downing Street Denial of in story.
asked how in media and public could trust #10 after he initially denied Covid rules were broken, Lewis said: “This is a different Downing Street, you have a different team of peopleMain of staff is different team you’re talking about who work with in prime minister, who lead on these questions.
“Steve Barkley himself new and wasn’t there at the time of those original mistakes.”
Johnson probably face further headaches given it former chief adviser Dominic Cummings said the evidence of “crimes in apartment” where Johnson lived was ignored by the Metropolitan Police and Cabinet.
Labor said Johnson needed to explain why the numbers in No. 10 “interfered in the investigation, which he argued, was independent and relied on Sue Grey.
Angela Reiner, party’s deputy leader, said: “It’s time public told the truth but this prime minister can no longer be trusted to say it.”
Johnson faces an investigation that is likely begin next a month in whether he misled parliament denying for weeks that any Covid rules were broken.
Anneliese Dodds, Labor party the chairman, said not enough Conservative MPs had yet to decide whether to try to oust Johnson or end the Partygate scandal. behind his.
“We think that in the end politics should to be clean is should to be force for good,” she said. “We should that all politicians are held to high standards.”
