The senior civil servant investigating ethics complaints surrounding lockdown Christmas parties at the heart of the British government has been forced to recuse himself after revelations that he attended a similar event.
Cabinet Secretary Simon Case “recused himself” from leading the high-profile investigation after allegations surfaced of gatherings in his own department.
He was given the task by Prime Minister Boris Johnson of investigating parties reported to have been held in Downing Street and the Department for Education in November and December 2020.
“To ensure the continuing investigation retains public confidence, the Cabinet secretary has recused himself for the remainder of the process,” a representative for No 10 said.
The investigation will be finished by Sue Gray, another senior civil servant.
“She will ascertain the facts and present her findings to the prime minister,” the representative said.
Ms Gray was director-general of propriety and ethics in the Cabinet Office from 2012 to 2018.
The allegations that Mr Case was involved in a lockdown party surfaced on Friday. Within hours, his recusal was confirmed.
Officials said Mr Case had only briefly attended a virtual quiz. In other reported cases, Mr Johnson reportedly joined an online party where other members broke Covid lockdown rules in force last year.
One of his closest aides, Allegra Stratton, resigned after video was released of her joking about lockdown parties in Downing Street.
A government representative said: “Staff in the Cabinet secretary's private office took part in a virtual quiz on December 17, 2020.
“A small number of them, who had been working in the office throughout the pandemic and on duty that day, took part from their desks, while the rest of the team were virtual.
“The Cabinet secretary played no part in the event, but walked through the team's office on the way to his own office.
“No outside guests or other staff were invited or present. This lasted for an hour and drinks and snacks were bought by those attending. He also spoke briefly to staff in the office before leaving.”
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Du Plessis plans his retirement
South Africa captain Faf du Plessis said on Friday the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia in two years' time will be his last.
Du Plessis, 34, who has led his country in two World T20 campaigns, in 2014 and 2016, is keen to play a third but will then step aside.
"The T20 World Cup in 2020 is something I'm really looking forward to. I think right now that will probably be the last tournament for me," he said in Brisbane ahead of a one-off T20 against Australia on Saturday.
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Most sixes: 292 – Chris Gayle
Most fours: 491 – Gautam Gambhir
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Fastest fifty (balls faced): 14 – Lokesh Rahul (for Kings XI Punjab against Delhi Daredevils in 2018)
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Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
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