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'Behaviour Difficult To Justify' - Report Into Downing Street Parties Published

Some of the behaviour at gatherings and events held in Downing Street and Whitehall during lockdown is "difficult to justify", according to a pared back version of the long-awaited Sue Gray.

"At least some of the gatherings in question represent a serious failure to observe not just the high standards expected of those working at the heart of government but also of the standards expected of the entire British population at the time," her findings state.

A limited version of the findings of the Cabinet Office inquiry has been made public and could prove pivotal in determining Boris Johnson's future.

He has come under pressure to resign over the partygate revelations concerning gatherings in Downing Street and across Whitehall during COVID-19 restrictions in 2020 and 2021.

Some his backbenchers have already called for the PM to go, while a number of others have said they were waiting for the release of the Gray report before deciding whether to send a letter to the 1922 Committee of Tory MPs demanding a contest.

Now that the "update" of the report has been published, Mr Johnson will deliver a Commons statement this afternoon and take questions from MPs.

Last week the Metropolitan Police launched a criminal investigation into potential breaches of COVID regulations in Downing Street and Whitehall and requested Ms Gray's report make only "minimal reference" to events it is looking at.

The force has written to the Cabinet Office, formally requesting it refers all relevant information from its inquiry to help support the investigation.

Sources have told Sky News this investigation will take "weeks, not days".

The prime minister's spokesman said he "can't confirm at this point" if what has been removed from the Gray report because of the Met's investigation will ever be published.

(C) Sky News.

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