#SueGray hands over #Partygate report to Downing Street. But has she edited it?
Duper’s delight: This is the smile Boris Johnson wears when he is lying. Was he wearing it in Parliament when he deflected calls for an inquiry into his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic?
If it is the inquiry’s report, the next question is whether it will be a full report, after the Metropolitan Police demanded that information on more serious offences that could have taken place should be removed to avoid prejudicing its officers’ investigations of them.
(Senior UK lawyers have said this is nonsense and her report cannot possibly prejudice a police inquiry, especially when one remembers that the offences concerned carry a penalty equivalent, in their words, to a parking fine.)
If the report does contain redactions in line with the Met’s demands, Boris Johnson is still not out of the woods, though.
Within police restrictions, it may still state whether parties took place, and it may still form a conclusion as to whether Johnson knew about them at the time. If he did, then he has since lied to Parliament and to the public about them – and should resign.
The problem with this, of course, is the same problem with the inquiry that has always existed: such an offence would be a breach of the Ministerial Code – but Johnson himself is the final arbiter of whether such a breach has taken place.
He may simply choose to excuse himself, as he excused Priti Patel when an inquiry found that she had bullied civil servants in the three government departments where she has worked.
That would be an extreme example of corruption at the heart of government, of course.
But would you put it past him?
Have YOU donated to my crowdfunding appeal, raising funds to fight false libel claims by TV celebrities who should know better? These court cases cost a lot of money so every penny will help ensure that wealth doesn’t beat justice.
Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:
Here are four ways to be sure you’re among the first to know what’s going on.
1) Register with us by clicking on ‘Subscribe’ (in the left margin). You can then receive notifications of every new article that is posted here.
2) Follow VP on Twitter @VoxPolitical
3) Like the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VoxPolitical/
Join the Vox Political Facebook page.
4) You could even make Vox Political your homepage at http://voxpoliticalonline.com
And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!
If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!
Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.
The Livingstone Presumption is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:
