British PM Boris Johnson's 'secret meeting' with partygate investigator criticised

Pressure is growing on UK Prime Minster Boris Johnson after he held a meeting with the woman leading the investigation into the ‘partygate’ allegations.

It is understood Mr Johnson and Sue Gray, a senior civil servant, met at least once for an update on the document's progress, but a Whitehall source said that its contents were not discussed at any point.

Both sides admit a meeting took place but both also deny instigating it, British media reported on Saturday.

For Mr Johnson, the pressure is coming from opposition MPs who are demanding transparency and details of the “secret meeting”.

About 30 people sent warnings over contents of Sue Gray Partygate report

He was issued with a fixed penalty notice for breaking Covid rules but the ‘partygate’ scandal has spread to numerous government departments holding lockdown-busting events.

About 30 people, including Mr Johnson, are being contacted by the Cabinet Office to warn them of the contents of the document before its publication.

Angela Rayner, the opposition Labour's deputy leader, called on the prime minister to “urgently explain” why the “secret meeting” had taken place.

She said public confidence in the process had already been “depleted”, and people “deserve to know the truth”.

“Boris Johnson must urgently explain why he held a secret meeting with Sue Gray to discuss her report despite claiming her investigation was completely independent.

“Public confidence in the process is already depleted, and people deserve to know the truth.

“This is a prime minister incapable of taking responsibility for the rotten culture he has created in Downing Street or of doing the decent thing.”

Liberal Democrat MP Christine Jardine also called on the PM to throw light on the meeting.

“Any whiff of a stitch-up would make an absolute mockery of the report,” she said.

“This meeting must be explained. Most of the country already feels betrayed by Boris Johnson. He has undermined public trust and the public deserve a process that is completely transparent and beyond question.

“It is a sorry state of affairs that Boris Johnson and his government are in such a crisis, he should do the right thing and resign, if not Conservative MPs should sack him.”

His Downing Street office said Mr Johnson acted in a legitimate and transparent manner.

“The prime minister commissioned the investigation led by Sue Gray and has been clear throughout that it should be completely independent," a No 10 representative said.

Key facilities

Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
Premier League-standard football pitch
400m Olympic running track
NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
600-seat auditorium
Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
Specialist robotics and science laboratories
AR and VR-enabled learning centres
Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills

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Day 1, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance

Moment of the day Dimuth Karunaratne had batted with plenty of pluck, and no little skill, in getting to within seven runs of a first-day century. Then, while he ran what he thought was a comfortable single to mid-on, his batting partner Dinesh Chandimal opted to stay at home. The opener was run out by the length of the pitch.

Stat of the day - 1 One six was hit on Day 1. The boundary was only breached 18 times in total over the course of the 90 overs. When it did arrive, the lone six was a thing of beauty, as Niroshan Dickwella effortlessly clipped Mohammed Amir over the square-leg boundary.

The verdict Three wickets down at lunch, on a featherbed wicket having won the toss, and Sri Lanka’s fragile confidence must have been waning. Then Karunaratne and Chandimal's alliance of precisely 100 gave them a foothold in the match. Dickwella’s free-spirited strokeplay meant the Sri Lankans were handily placed at 227 for four at the close.

Charlotte Gainsbourg

Rest

(Because Music)

The Baghdad Clock

Shahad Al Rawi, Oneworld