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Number 10's lockdown parties saw one reveller throw up due to boozing and a fight break out

Photo credit: TOLGA AKMEN - Getty Images
Photo credit: TOLGA AKMEN - Getty Images

After a tense wait, senior civil servant Sue Gray's 'Partygate' report into accusations that Boris Johnson and other government officials repeatedly broke lockdown rules - by throwing parties whilst the rest of the UK were ordered to stay apart from loved ones - has been published. And it's bad. Like, really bad.

At one point, Gray describes the government's actions throughout lockdown as displaying "a serious failure" to abide by the "standards expected of the entire British population" and says that during one shindig, which lasted until 4:20AM, a child's swing was broken.

Other parts of the report comment that an individual was sick due to "excessive alcohol consumption" at a party which lasted until 3am and that a minor scrap broke out between two attendees.

Photo credit: Dan Kitwood
Photo credit: Dan Kitwood

In total, Gray and her team looked into 16 different events at 10 Downing Street (and other government buildings) at which there was evidence suggesting that lockdown rules may have been broken. By the people in power. The same people who created the rules in the first place. Rules which saw people dying alone as loved ones were unable to be by their side.

Overall, the word 'wine' is mentioned in Gray's report 20 times.

At one leaving do, which is said to have happened 18 June 2020 (at a time where guidance to the public stated 'gatherings of two or more indoors were prohibited'), Gray writes: "Some brought pizza and Prosecco and they were followed by others, over the next couple of hours. Helen MacNamara, Deputy Cabinet Secretary, attended for part of the evening and provided a karaoke machine which was set up in an adjoining office to the waiting room."

Gray's report comes a week after the Met's own investigation saw 126 fixed penalty notices, related to breaches of Covid regulations in Downing Street, issued. The individuals who received the FPNs were not named, but it's said in Gray's report that some people received more than one fine and that Johnson and the Chancellor each confirmed that they had received one in relation to an event on the 19th June 2020, celebrating Johnson's birthday.

You can read Sue Gray's full report into Partygate, which includes nine photographs as evidence, here.

The Prime Minister is expected to make a statement following PMQs later today.

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