My statement on Sue Gray Report

Dear Constituent,

Thank you for your mail following the Gray Report, and I hope you will forgive me for answering you all with the same statement (which will also go on my website, www.richardgraham.org)

Sue Gray’s interim report into the Alleged gatherings on Government Premises was published on Monday and the Prime Minister then answered questions for two hours.

Let me summarise the key points from both, give my reaction and summarise what could happen next:

1. The Report

The 9 page report (‘the investigative work is now essentially complete’) covers 14 alleged events on 12 different days. Sue Gray states that the Metropolitan Police (‘the Met’) has decided to investigate 10 events. She notes that ‘it is not for me to make a judgement on whether the criminal law has been broken: that is properly a matter for law enforcement’.

Some constituents have asked me if this is the first time a Prime Minister has been caught up in a police enquiry. It isn’t: there was a police enquiry on a cash for honours issue when Tony Blair was PM.

Her main points on the context:

• Government officials and special advisors supporting the PM or other Ministers ‘continued to attend their offices.. as permitted by an exemption under the regulations’
• ‘Tight knit groups of officials and advisors worked long hours under difficult conditions in buildings that could not be easily adapted as Covid secure workplaces..the PM’s flat and the Downing St garden are in close proximity to the offices and serve a dual office and private purpose’
• ‘These challenges, however, also applied to key and frontline workers across the country who were working equally, if not more, demanding conditions, often at risk to their own health’
• ‘The hardship under which citizens across the country worked, lived and sadly died while observing the Government’s regulations and guidance rigorously are known only too well’

Her general findings:

• ‘Some of the behaviour surrounding these gatherings is difficult to justify..some of the gatherings in question represent a serious failure to observe..the high standards expected of those working at the heart of the Government’
• ‘There were failures of leadership and judgement by different parts of No10 and the Cabinet Office at different times.’
• Steps needed to be taken about the consumption of alcohol in the workplace
• Using the garden as an extension of the workplace during the pandemic ‘was a sensible measure..but the garden was also used for gatherings without clear authorisation and oversight. This was not appropriate’
• Staff who wanted to raise concerns ‘at times felt unable to do so..there should be easier ways for staff to raise such concerns informally’

Her conclusion:

• The gatherings were spread over a 20 month period ‘unique..in terms of the complexity and breadth of demands on public servants and indeed the general public’
• Ministers, special advisors and civil servants ‘were a key and dedicated part of that national effort’
• But some of these gatherings should not have happened or been allowed to develop as they did
• There are lessons to be learnt ‘which must be addressed immediately across government’ and this does not need to wait for police investigations to be concluded

2. The PM’s statement

• He apologised profusely and accepted all the recommendations from Sue Gray (greater control and process over events, use of the garden and consumption of alcohol: greater clarity about who is in charge of what: an informal process for concerns: in essence changes in the structure at No10 and changes to the Code of Practice for SPADs and civil servants  there
• He announced the setting up of a new Office of the Prime Minister in No 10
• ..and encouraged questioners to await the Police investigation before pre-judging events

3. My reaction

• This report is extremely uncomfortable reading, and would be for any PM or government
• It was not long ago that we were told there was no question of anything done that had broken the law: now there is a police investigation covering 10 events
• The PM has accepted all the Gray Recommendations, including new structures at No 10 (and by implication probably some new personnel)
• Only the police will decide whether the law was broken and if so by whom and whether prosecution should follow
• I believe many of these issues – particularly about the dual function of No10 as both home and office/government dept with large numbers of workers - would have been difficult for any PM during the pandemic
• But there are also real non legal questions on leadership and judgement for which the PM has to take overall responsibility, including answers to questions which have changed over the last few months

4. What happens next?

• The reactions of the general public, my colleagues and the police are key
• Many will have already made up their own minds, and some of you have already written (hence this reply), but other constituents are welcome to mail me your thoughts and reactions (or wait to see the police report first rather than pre-judging any legal outcome)
• Conservative MPs can send in letters of no confidence to the Chairman of the 1922 Cttee (effectively the union of Conservative back bench MPs) which would (if a minimum of 54 were sent in) trigger a formal vote of no confidence. Were that to happen, and the PM to lose that vote of confidence, then a new selection process for the Leader of the Party would follow
• Some MPs will choose to go public on whether they have sent a letter or not: I believe this should be a private not a public matter

This issue is not over yet.  The interim Gray Report recommendations are clear and have been accepted. That is a good step in the right direction, as is the PM’s apology. But the verdict of the court of public opinion is now open, before the police report and the complete Sue Gray report (which will be published in full). The conclusions of each are important, as are your views

So please do mail me any thoughts on  [email protected]

Thank you

Best regards

Richard