The Sue Gray Report – Findings and Conclusions

In the wake of the police’s recommendation that the Gray inquiry report be made public, MPs have begun to discuss their concerns about the process. But the inquiry itself has a limited remit and is not independent or parliamentary. It’s the Cabinet Office that has the final say. It’s likely that the prime minister will be able to ask questions about the report’s findings and conclusions. But if that happens, there’s a strong possibility that the report will be delayed or even abandoned.

The Sue Gray report is a lengthy document, 12 pages long. The first two pages are blank, and the next nine pages contain the terms of reference for the investigation. The last two pages list the timeline of the Covid-19 regulations from March 2020 to May 2021. The remaining six page is divided into 24 short sections – most of them consist of a single paragraph. The first five sections are a summary of events; the second five are a timeline; the sixth to 16 are context; and the final section contains the report’s conclusion.

The government has repeatedly rejected demands to publish the full Sue Gray report, saying that it would only do so after the Met’s probe was complete. Downing Street has also refused to commit to publishing the full report until the probe is completed. Boris Johnson’s spokesman said the Met investigation must be completed before anything else can be done. This is simply not acceptable. The public’s right to know what happened is vital, and it is essential that all members of Parliament are informed of it.

Despite Sue Gray’s qualifications, she’s unlikely to recommend action against any politicians, and her report is very critical of the culture and leadership of the civil service in Downing Street. As such, the findings could trigger disciplinary action against some civil servants. Certainly, it’s a difficult read for senior people. In addition, the conclusions may be difficult to accept. This is not to suggest that the government should let Sue Gray dictate what happens.

It’s not clear yet whether the report will be published, but it’s likely to be released within the next couple of weeks. The report is a scathing critique of the government’s handling of the events at the party. The Cabinet office is obligated to cooperate with the investigation, and the police should. However, Sue Gray’s final report will be published in a week’s time.

Sue Gray’s report has a limited scope. The police only asked her to include as little reference as possible to avoid prejudice, and it’s not clear if the police will allow her to make changes. That said, it’s worth noting that the police report has not yet been released. The Met’s request for a delay has not been made. The Gray report is only a partial examination of the events, and is not a comprehensive analysis.