In Sue Gray's 37-page report into the transgressions at Downing Street during the lockdown period she set out a series of findings.
They include:
‘What took place at many of these gatherings and the way in which they developed was not in line with Covid guidance at the time’
The inquiry report highlights that the UK’s senior political leadership flouted Covid-19 rules that they themselves established.
Sue Gray said some officials were working under “extraordinary pressures” but noted that other public servants were working in more difficult circumstances at greater personal risk.
“The hardship under which citizens across the country worked, lived and sadly even died while observing the Government’s regulations and guidance rigorously are known only too well,” she wrote.
Ms Gray also criticises the way in which she learnt about some of the 16 gatherings she investigated. She started off with three and her inquiries led her to another 13. She said that it is possible there were more.
“It was also, unfortunately, the case that details of some events only became known to me and my team through reporting in the media. This is disappointing,” she said.
‘The events that I investigated were attended by leaders in government. Many of these events should not have been allowed to happen’
The Sue Gray report provides evidence to show that senior leaders within Downing Street were aware they faced criticism if the gatherings came to light – but went ahead with them anyway.
Lee Cain, the former 10 Downing Street director of communications, wrote that “a 200 odd person invitation for drinks in the garden of no 10 is somewhat of a comms [communications] risk in the current environment”.
He later claimed to have advised the event should cancelled.
The May 2020 event went ahead. Martin Reynolds, Boris Johnson’s principal private secretary, later told an adviser dealing with another matter that it was “better than them focusing on our drinks (which we seem to have got away with).”
They didn’t. The party was among the eight for which fines were issued.
‘The senior leadership at the centre, both political and official, must bear responsibility for this culture’
The culture Sue Gray referenced included copious drinking and bad behaviour. Three of the 16 events are singled out for “excessive” alcohol consumption.
The inquiry uncovered evidence of the culture including a 10 Downing Street official sending a message on internal systems about “drunkenness” and advising that staff leave out of the back exit of Downing Street to avoid being photographed.
Further messages exchanged between senior figures showed how they were mindful of keeping staff away from the cameras of the Downing Street press pack and “not walking around waving bottles of wine etc”.
‘I was made aware of multiple examples of a lack of respect and poor treatment of security and cleaning staff. This was unacceptable’
“I found that some staff had witnessed or been subjected to behaviours at work which they had felt concerned about but at times felt unable to raise properly,” said Ms Gray in her report.
She cited “multiple examples” in which cleaning staff – left with the job of clearing up after the parties – had been treated with a lack of respect.
After one party, a cleaner who arrived the following morning found wine spilt on one wall and on several boxes of photocopier paper.
The damage wasn’t limited to liquid spills. The report found a group damaged a children’s slide in the Downing Street gardens while “playing with it”. The damage was not noticed and reported until the following morning.
‘Many will be dismayed that behaviour of this kind took place on this scale at the heart of government. The public have a right to expect the very highest standards of behaviour in such places and clearly what happened fell well short of this’
Details about the breakdown of the “very highest standards of behaviour” are peppered throughout the report.
Such was the level of “excessive alcohol consumption” at some of the 16 events under scrutiny that “one individual was sick”, it said.
It went on to say there was a “minor altercation” between two other people before everyone finally went home by 3.13am. At another gathering, the last person to leave departed at 4.20am.
Ms Gray said that issue of disciplinary action was not part of her remit but that it was clear that junior staff should not take the rap for what went on.
“While there is no excuse for some of the behaviour set out here, it is important to acknowledge that those in the most junior positions attended gatherings at which their seniors were present, or indeed organised,” she said.
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Read more
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
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UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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Analysis
Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.
The EU-UAE bilateral trade deal will be finalised soon, he said. It is in everyone’s interests to do so. Both sides want to move quickly and are in alignment. He said the UAE is a very important partner for the EU. It’s full speed ahead - and with some lofty ambitions - on the road to a free trade agreement.
We also talked about US-EU tariffs. He answered that both sides need to talk more and more often, but he is prepared to defend Europe's position and said diplomacy should be a guiding principle through the current moment.
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It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
The five pillars of Islam
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
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Saudi National Day
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Company: Instabug
Founded: 2013
Based: Egypt, Cairo
Sector: IT
Employees: 100
Stage: Series A
Investors: Flat6Labs, Accel, Y Combinator and angel investors
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
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Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
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PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
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RESULTS
Argentina 4 Haiti 0
Peru 2 Scotland 0
Panama 0 Northern Ireland 0
Switching%20sides
If%20you%20go
In numbers
1,000 tonnes of waste collected daily:
- 800 tonnes converted into alternative fuel
- 150 tonnes to landfill
- 50 tonnes sold as scrap metal
800 tonnes of RDF replaces 500 tonnes of coal
Two conveyor lines treat more than 350,000 tonnes of waste per year
25 staff on site
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About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now
Specs
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Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
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- Financial well-being incentives
