The expected report by Sue Gray, a UK government official, on the parties held during the Covid pandemic – some of which were attended by Prime Minister Boris Johnson – was released this Wednesday (25). The case, known as “partygate”, opened a crisis in the management of the conservative politician.
The 60-page document says, among other things, that the parties held contradicted the guidelines related to the health crisis at the time. In all, 83 government officials reportedly participated in events that violated guidelines to contain the coronavirus, says Gray, who has been a civil servant since the 1970s.
“The events investigated had the participation of government leaders; many low-ranking civil servants believed that their participation was allowed, once the bosses were present”, followed the report delivered to Boris, who is expected to comment on the matter. coming soon.
One of the events that the prime minister attended, a birthday party on June 19, 2020 that lasted 20 to 30 minutes, says Gray, was not known to Boris. “The prime minister was not aware in advance, and it was not part of his official diary of the day,” he said. The politician, however, was fined for the occasion.
Already at a party the day before, the 18th, “there was excessive consumption of alcohol by some people, and two individuals became ill”, says another excerpt from the report. Gray said he has already recommended that rules on alcohol consumption in the workplace be imposed on employees, but stressed that he does not have the power to suggest disciplinary action to those involved.
He also said he had identified a management problem in Downing Street, the seat of government, with a lack of clear lines of leadership and “several examples of lack of respect for security and cleaning workers.” He added, however, that changes have already been made: “I hope this embodies a welcoming culture so that all levels feel comfortable talking.”
Finally, he said he was convinced that the cases analyzed do not reflect the prevailing culture in the civil service, but asked for respect for citizens. “The public is entitled to expect the highest standards of behavior in these spaces, and clearly what happened fell far short of that,” she concluded.
Another internal government report, also led by Sue Gray, had been released in January. The brief document was 12 pages long, but already said there was a leadership problem in Downing Street. As there was police interference, limiting Gray’s performance —said the employee herself — a new report, this one more robust, was commissioned.
