The Partygate scandal melodrama has entered its final innings, with the Metropolitan Police announcing it has wound up its criminal investigation, having dished out over a hundred fines.
The end of the police investigation means Sue Gray, who oversees the British government’s ethics inquiries, will deliver her long-awaited report next week, according to Downing Street.
While her de-fanged findings in January criticised the Cabinet Office for its “failure in leadership”, the full report is likely to feature more detailed accounts of what actually happened at the heart of government – although photographic evidence and private correspondence is unlikely to feature.
The Prime Minister will be relieved to hear he won’t receive any more Fixed Penalty Notices. He has already been issued with one FPN for the time he was “ambushed” by a birthday cake by his wife Carrie on 19 June 2020 during the middle of lockdown.
Scotland Yard has recommended the ACRO Criminal Records Office to hand out a total of 126 fixed-penalty notices for eight parties held in Downing Street and Whitehall during the coronavirus pandemic – despite Boris Johnson previously claiming in the House of Commons that “no rules were broken”.
The Met’s four-month probe, known as “Operation Hillman”, cost the taxpayer a hefty £460,000 – most likely because of the length of time it took to interview suspects.
The heat on the PM will be turned up several notches – over retaining support from Conservative MPs and his performance in the forthcoming Privileges Committee inquiry – if the senior civil servant’s report is as explosive as briefings suggest.
The controversy that has gripped Westminster for weeks is about to reach its conclusion. Partygate is not over just yet.
