Sue Gray enquiry: Nick Ferrari quizzes Hinds on outcome

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Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing an anxious week, with the report into whether breaches of lockdown rules were made by the Conservative Party due to be released. Several gatherings are alleged to have taken place, some attended by the Prime Minister himself, at the height of lockdown. But when will we know Sue Gray’s verdict?

The report’s conclusion will likely seal Mr Johnson’s fate as if it finds rules were broken MPs could launch a vote of no confidence into the Prime Minister.

Civil Servant and second permanent secretary Sue Gray is conducting the report, following Mr Johnson’s calls for an inquiry into rule-breaking parties held at Downing Street in early December.

Ms Gray was not the first person asked to carry out the report however, originally Cabinet Secretary Simon Case was requested to lead the inquiries.

However, when it emerged “gatherings” had taken place in his department, the case was passed over to Ms Gray.

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When will we know the Gray report verdict?

Ms Gray has been carrying out the investigation for several weeks now, and her workload has increased as more claims of parties have emerged.

More than a dozen gatherings are alleged to have taken place while the UK was under strict lockdown rules.

These a party as far back as May 2020, and another two the night before Prince Philip’s funeral.

Experts are predicting the results of the report will come on Wednesday or Thursday this week, however could be seen as early as Tuesday.

Ms Gray is believed to have carried out the majority of her investigations and interviewed the Prime Minister about his knowledge of the accusations.

According to the Telegraph, Ms Gray has also spoken to on-duty members of the Metropolitan Police’s Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command who have given their accounts.

A source told the publication the statements are “extremely damning”.

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Former aide to the Prime Minister Dominic Cummings has also given his version of events to Ms Gray.

Despite reports Ms Gray was interviewing Mr Cummings in person, he has instead said his comments were written.

In a blog post, Mr Cummings said when he was asked to contribute by Ms Gray he suggested they should “keep everything in writing” to make “both our lives easier”.

He wrote: “She agreed. So I have answered questions in writing and will answer further questions in writing if she wants.”

Will the report be published in full?

With public anger at the reported parties at a time of national hardship, many will want to read the report for themselves.

While the findings of the report will be made public, it is not clear whether the report in its entirety will be.

When asked if it would be published in full, Nadhim Zahawi told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “So the terms of reference for Sue Gray’s report is that the findings of her report will be made public, and the Prime Minister has pledged he will come to parliament to then make a statement and be scrutinised by colleagues on the findings of that report.”

Mr Zahawi was then asked if that meant the report would not be fully published, to which he said: “The findings of Sue Gray’s report will be made public – that is the terms of reference.

“I think that will ensure public confidence. She can follow the evidence wherever it takes her, and she’s doing exactly that.”

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