- Sue Gray's long-awaited report lifts the lid on multiple parties that took place during lockdowns.
- People drank so much they were sick, got into fights, and broke a child's swing, the report said.
- Gray blamed "failures of leadership and judgment in No 10 and the Cabinet Office".
The long-awaited investigation into Prime Minister Boris Johnson and so-called partygate released on Wednesday, lifting the lid on some of the the raucous behaviour in 10 Downing Street during England's COVID-19 lockdowns.
The report by Sue Gray, a senior civil servant, called for senior leadership at Downing Street to "bear responsibility" for a culture in which rule-breaking was allowed to develop. It also said there was "no excuse for some of the behaviour" uncovered during the course of the probe.
Her report lifts the lid on booze-fuelled behaviour that led to people throwing up, getting into fights and breaking property.
Gray blamed "failures of leadership and judgment in No 10 and the Cabinet Office", although she did not name Johnson or other individuals specifically.
However, she said that "some of the more junior civil servants believed that their involvement in some of these events was permitted given the attendance of senior leaders", adding: "The senior leadership at the centre, both political and official, must bear responsibility for this culture."
'Somewhat of a comms risk'
The report includes communication between some of the people who organised events, such as the infamous bring-your-own-booze garden party, which was pulled together by Johnson's then-personal private secretary Martin Reynolds.
Although Reynolds was thought to have instigated the event, various emails and messages show that other aides were involved before he sent an email out, including a discussion about how to get alcohol — which led to staff being asked to supply their own.
The message was also sent to the office of the Cabinet Secretary. Johnson attended the event for around half an hour, the report said.
The messages also suggest that attendees were aware the gathering was not strictly within the rules, as one notes the timing was close to the scheduled press conference, and it would be "helpful if people can be mindful of that as speakers and cameras are leaving, not walking around wavingbottles of wine etc".
Reynolds replied: "Will do my best!"
'We seem to have got away with [it]'
It also reveals a subsequent message between Reynolds and other Number 10 aide, referring to an unknown incident as "a complete non story but better than them focusing on our drinks (which we seem to have got away with)".
It appears relatively few people shied away from the invite, with just one unnamed Number 10 director saying they had told Reynolds it was not a good idea.
Lee Cain, then-director of communications, emailed Reynolds saying it was "somewhat of a comms risk in the current environment", although adds: "I'm sure it will be fine."
There is no evidence that Dominic Cummings, former chief advisor to Johnson, raised objections to it, although he has previously said he did.
Vomiting, fighting and breaking property
Communications around other events are also laid bare in excruciating detail, with Cain yet again warning of a "substantial comms risk" for a leaving party held in June 2020, involving pizza and karaoke, which got so rowdy that one member of staff was sick.
There was also "a minor altercation" between two individuals, the report says. That event ended after 3am.
Another alcohol-fuelled event, with around 45 attendees, left a child's swing damaged, the report said.
There was no mention of a suitcase being used to bring alcohol onto the premises, although the report notes that wine and beer had been bought by attendees.
Alcohol was drunk "until the early hours", with the last staff member leaving at 4:20 a.m. at that event, the report said.
Leaving drinks for Cain and Cummings
Leaving drinks for the two senior aides "was not pre-planned", and took place at the same time as "wine time Fridays", the report notes.
Johnson gave a leaving speech for Cain, and drank alcohol along with other attendees. Multiple pictures were taken of the event, which were leaked to ITV News earlier this week.
Gray says she did not investigate further after handing evidence over to the Metropolitan Police. Details of this event, and the so-called Abba party which supposedly took place in the Downing Street flat on the same evening, are limited.
Lack of respect to cleaners and security staff
Beyond the various parties, the report is also critical of a culture of poor behaviour towards support staff.
Gray says she learned of "multiple examples of a lack of respect and poor treatment of security and cleaning staff", adding: "This was unacceptable."
The senior civil servant said she backs changes that have been introduced subsequently, allowing people to make complaints electronically, which she said she hoped would "truly embed a culture that welcomes and creates opportunities for challenge and speaking up at all levels".
