London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Nov 04, 2026

Sue Gray partygate report: The key findings at a glance

Sue Gray partygate report: The key findings at a glance

A senior civil servant's highly anticipated report on lockdown gatherings held in and around Downing Street has been published in full.

Sue Gray investigated 16 events among which the police found multiple breaches of Covid rules during the pandemic.

Her report criticises the culture and leadership in Downing Street.

It includes photos of gatherings and the names of some of those who attended.

Here we look at some of the key details in the 48-page report.

For each event, Ms Gray summarises the Covid regulations that applied at the time, and describes what happened and who attended. Here's what she wrote about some of the gatherings:

15 May 2020: A gathering in the Downing Street garden


* People were there for separate meetings in the No 10 garden where alcohol was drunk; the prime minister brought cheese and wine from his flat for an outdoor meeting lasting between 40 minutes and an hour

* Ms Gray says there is no reason to suggest this was anything other than a further work meeting

* Gatherings of more than two people in public were banned unless they were "essential for work purposes"

20 May 2020: A gathering in the Downing Street garden


* The investigation was told this was aimed at "boosting staff morale following a challenging period"

* It was planned in advance by officials; an email sent to staff by the PM's principal private secretary Martin Reynolds read: "Please join us from 6pm and bring your own booze"

* Concerns were expressed about whether it was appropriate

* Mr Johnson attended for about 30 minutes to thank staff before returning to his office for a meeting

* Gatherings of more than two people in public were banned unless they were essential for work purposes

19 June 2020: A gathering in the Cabinet Room for the PM's birthday


* A number of people gathered in the Cabinet Room for a pre-planned event with food, alcohol and soft drinks

* Cleo Watson, a No 10 special adviser, said she had been asked to organise it

* The prime minister and the chancellor had no advance knowledge of the event, which lasted about 30 minutes

* Gatherings of two or more people indoors and more than six outdoors were prohibited

13 November 2020: A gathering in Downing Street to mark the departure of a special adviser


* Staff gathered in the press office area of No 10 to mark the departure of Lee Cain, the PM's communications chief

* It was not planned and occurred at about the time that "Wine Time Friday" would normally take place

* The prime minister attended on his way to his Downing Street flat, gave a speech and had a drink

* After 6pm, a meeting was held in the PM's flat to discuss the handling of Mr Cain's departure and that of former No 10 adviser Dominic Cummings; the PM joined it at about 8pm

* Sue Gray says she was able to gather only limited information on this gathering before the Met started investigating

* Indoor gatherings of two or more people were banned unless they were "reasonably necessary" for work purposes

16 April 2021: Two gatherings in Downing Street to mark the departures of No 10 officials


* Two separate leaving events took place in No 10, one for director of communications James Slack and one for another official

* Alcohol was consumed and speeches were made at both events, and the two groups eventually came together in the Downing Street garden

* Some people damaged a child's swing/slide in the garden

* Staff members stayed until the early hours, the last leaving at 4.20am

* Gatherings of two or more people indoors or more than six outdoors were prohibited

What photographs have been included?


In total, nine photographs from inside Downing Street appear in the report. They show:

* Mr Johnson, Mr Sunak and Cabinet Secretary Simon Case gathered in the Cabinet Room for a birthday party thrown in the PM's honour in June 2020



* Mr Johnson drinking with staff at an event to mark the departure of officials on 13 November 2020



What are her criticisms and feedback?


Ms Gray's critique focuses on the context at the time of the parties, and her conclusions as to how they were allowed to happen at the heart of government during the pandemic.

Pandemic sacrifices:


* The pandemic "had a seismic impact on every aspect of life in the country", and restrictions were put in place to control the spread of the virus and keep the most vulnerable safe

* Ministers and officials worked long hours "under difficult conditions in buildings that could not be easily adapted as Covid secure workplaces"

* But those challenges "applied to key and frontline workers across the country who were working under equally, if not more, demanding conditions"

* The report highlights the personal sacrifices everyone made, including those not able to see "loved ones in their last moments or care for vulnerable family and friends"

Covid breaches:


* Regardless of "initial intent", many of the events investigated were not "in line with Covid guidance at the time"

* Some attitudes and behaviours were "inconsistent" with that guidance

* It is clear there were breaches of the Covid regulations and guidance, given the Met Police fined 83 people

Leadership failures:


* Ms Gray's her initial report in January commented on "failures of leadership and judgment in No 10 and the Cabinet Office"

* Today she says many events were attended by government leaders and "should not have been allowed to happen"

* "The senior leadership at the centre, both political and official, must bear responsibility for this culture"; the public have "a right to expect the very highest standards of behaviour" in Downing Street and "clearly what happened fell well short of this"

Work culture:


* Some staff felt unable to raise concerns about behaviour they had witnessed at work

* There were "multiple examples of a lack of respect and poor treatment of security and cleaning staff", which was "unacceptable"

* "A clear and robust policy covering the consumption of alcohol in the workplace" has been recommended and implemented

Disciplinary action:


* Ms Gray says disciplinary action "is for others to consider"; her report does not amount to a "disciplinary investigation"

* She says it is important to acknowledge that those in the most junior positions attended gatherings at which their seniors were present, or indeed organised them

* She hopes junior staff learn from this experience and that this will be taken into account when considering any action

Progress on reforms:


* Ms Gray says she is "pleased progress is being made in addressing the issues I raised"

* There have been changes to the organisation and management of Downing Street and the Cabinet Office that aim for clearer lines of leadership and accountability

Who has been named?


No one was identified in Ms Gray's initial report, which was released as the Met began investigating the events.

With the police force's investigation now concluded, Ms Gray has named some senior officials and ministers in her final report. They include:

* Prime Minister Boris Johnson

* Chancellor Rishi Sunak

* Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, the most senior civil servant

* Cleo Watson, a former No 10 special adviser

* Dominic Cummings, the PM's former chief adviser

* Lee Cain, the PM's former communications chief

* James Slack, another former director of communications

* Martin Reynolds, the PM's former principal private secretary

* Helen MacNamara, a former ethics chief at the Cabinet Office

Which gatherings were investigated?

* The 16 events took place over a dozen dates between May 2020 and April 2021, when Covid restrictions were in force

* They were held in 10 Downing Street or the Cabinet Office, apart from one in the Department for Education

* Of these events, 12 were investigated by the Metropolitan Police, who issued 126 fines to 83 people, including the prime minister

* Mr Johnson, his wife Carrie Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak were all fined for attending a birthday party for the PM in the Cabinet Room on 19 June 2020

* Other events investigated by Ms Gray included the infamous bring-your-own-booze party in the Downing Street garden, attended by the PM on 20 May 2020

* She also looked into a leaving do for Mr Johnson's communications chief Lee Cain and a gathering in the No 10 flat, both on 13 November 2020

* The last events on the list were two parties held by Downing Street staff at No 10, the night before Prince Philip's funeral on 16 April 2021

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Approves Construction of New North Sea Offshore Wind Hub
Northern Ireland Executive Finalizes Public Sector Pay Agreements Following Months of Inter-Agency Negotiations
Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan Secures Cross-Party Support for Regional Clean Energy Infrastructure Bill
Competition and Markets Authority Launches Formal Investigation Into Dominant Artificial Intelligence Cloud Partnerships
United Kingdom Foreign Secretary David Lammy Concludes High-Level Diplomatic Mission to Washington and Ottawa
Scottish Government Announces Emergency Housing Investment Package to Address Escalating Urban Homelessness
Chancellor Rachel Reeves Finalizes Corporate Tax Adjustments Ahead of Upcoming Business Investment Summit
National Health Service England Unveils Emergency Winter Resilience Plan to Combat Projected A&E Overcrowding
Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee Votes to Hold Base Interest Rate Steady at Four Point Seven5 Per Cent
UK Gross Domestic Product Expands by Zero Point Four Per Cent in Third Quarter Driven by Resilient Services Growth
Northern Ireland Executive Agrees on Multi-Year Public Sector Pay Restructuring Framework at Stormont
Department for Transport Confirms Acceleration of Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Rollout Along Strategic Motorways
Welsh Government Announces Emergency Funding Package to Support Agricultural Sector Facing Severe Weather Impacts
High Court Rules in Favor of Environmental Coalition Over Government Carbon Reduction Plan Deficiencies
Office for National Statistics Reports Stable Retail Sales Growth Supported by Strong Digital Commerce Volumes
Scottish First Minister John Swinney Secures Cross-Party Support for Renewable Energy Export Expansion
National Health Service Digital Reports Major Breakthrough in Reducing Elective Waiting Lists Across England
Chancellor Rachel Reeves Outlines Infrastructure Spending Reforms to Boost Regional Economic Growth Across Northern England
Bank of England Holds Baseline Interest Rate at Five Percent Amid Persistent Core Inflation Pressures
House of Lords Advances Representation of the People Bill to Modernize Electoral Law Ahead of General Election
Financial Markets and Private Equity Assess Tax and Corporate Realignment Following Recent Chancellor Budget Adjustments
Justice Committee Warns Legal Aid Is a Service in Managed Decline Due to Inadequate Government Funding Responses
Royal Navy Intercepts Russian Intelligence Vessel and Warships Across Intensive North Sea Operations
Business and Trade Committee Slams Government Policy on China as Fragmented and Lacking Strategic Direction
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood Softens Immigration Plans Following Intensive Cabinet Backlash Over Settlement Timelines
Automotive Industry Data Reveals Continued Acceleration in Battery Electric Vehicle Registrations Across British Dealerships
High Court of England and Wales Rules on Landmark Legal Challenge Regarding Local Government Housing Mandates
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Approves Expanded Offshore Wind Infrastructure Along Scottish Coastline
Competition and Markets Authority Launches Broad Investigation Into Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure and Cloud Partnerships
United Kingdom and European Union Launch High-Level Preparations for Bilateral Defense and Security Summit in Brussels
National Health Service England Unveils Emergency Workforce Reforms to Alleviate Winter Accident and Emergency Pressures
Chancellor Rachel Reeves Finalizes Autumn Budget Adjustments to Meet Fiscal Rules and Fund Public Services
Bank of England Prepares for Interest Rate Decision Amid Rising Bond Yields and Inflationary Pressures
House of Lords Begins Detailed Legislative Scrutiny of Representation of the People Bill and Cyber Security Laws
Metropolitan Police Detain More Than Three Hundred Individuals Following Large-Scale Demonstration Outside London Embassy
Home Office Prepares Stricter Residency Rules Requiring Vulnerable Migrants to Wait Decade for Settlement Rights
Professional Mental Health Bodies Demand Statutory Regulation for Counsellors and Psychotherapists
National Grid Confirms Construction of Britain's Largest Electrical Substation to Power Teesside Data Centre
Prime Minister Keir Starmer Travels to Samoa for Commonwealth Summit Amid Debates on Economic Cooperation and Reparations
Home Office Implements Enhanced Digital Border Controls and Visa Processing Systems at Major Airports
Office for National Statistics Reports Stable Employment Participation Rates Across Regional Labor Markets
Department for Business and Trade Announces Strategic Partnership to Secure Critical Mineral Supply Chains
Scottish Government Unveils Regional Economic Development Strategy to Boost Advanced Manufacturing in Glasgow and Dundee
Treasury Officials Review Taxation Frameworks and Capital Gains Rules Ahead of Autumn Budget Disclosures
National Health Service Leaders Warn of Winter Capacity Pressures Across Acute Care Facilities
Bank of England Prepares for Key Interest Rate Decision Amid Sticky Inflation and Fiscal Policy Pressures
Home Office Expands Border Security Operations and Intelligence Sharing With European Partners
Office for National Statistics Reports Modest Retail Sales Growth Ahead of Crucial Christmas Trading Season
Welsh Government Unveils Strategic Plan to Boost Regional Technology Innovation and Digital Skills Training
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs Implements New Agricultural Subsidies Framework for English Farmers
×