THE UK Government has refused to say when the Sue Gray report will be released during an urgent question in the House of Commons.
Paymaster General Michael Ellis took to the despatch box on Tuesday after it emerged that the Metropolitan Police will investigate a "number of events" which took place in Downing Street and Whitehall during the last two years and when the rest of the country was living under restrictive lockdown rules.
Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner led the questioning against Ellis in the chamber, demanding a statement on the status of civil servant Sue Gray's inquiry into numerous allegations after the Met's announcement.
Ellis told MPs: “This is a matter for the police, and the House will understand that I’m not in a position to comment on the nature or content of the police investigation.
READ MORE: Met Police will now investigate 'a number' of Downing Street parties
“I have previously made clear from this despatch box that the Government recognises and I recognise the public anxiety and indignation that it appears as though the people who have been setting the rules may not have been following the rules, and I’d like to repeat that sentiment today.”
Ellis added: “I can confirm that the findings of the investigation will be provided to this honourable House and made public.”
The minister did not give a time frame or allay fears that the report may be heavily redacted when it is made public, despite numerous questions.
Rayner, in a follow-up question, asked Ellis to assure the Hous that the full report and all evidence from Gray's inquiry will be published.
She added that the terms of reference for the Gray inquiry stated that if "any evidence emerges of behaviour that is potentially a criminal offence" then the matter would be passed on to the police.
Rayner said: "Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister told this House there was no party.
"How does the paymaster general explain that? I know across the country, people know enough. They have made up their minds about the Prime Minister. So when will his party catch up?"
Ellis (pictured) replied: "The reality of the matter is that the fact that the police are investigating the matter does not draw any conclusions if she looks at the statement issued by the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick she has stressed the fact that the Met is investigating does not mean that it will necessarily result in fixed penalty notices in every instance and to every person involved.
"So potentially is a key and operative word and she wants to drop jump to conclusions, but she asks about the details of the investigation - those are of course matters for the Cabinet Office and matters for the police.
"They're not details which I would be informed I wouldn't expect to be informed because the police have independent operational assessment of matters that are before them, and they will conduct matter as they see fit."
SNP MP Brendan O’Hara asked when the Cabinet Office first learned about the police investigation, when the Gray report will be delivered and for assurances that it will be open and “fully transparent”.
READ MORE: Scottish Tories fail to back calls for Boris Johnson to step down over partygate
Ellis replied: "He asks me questions about the police investigation and I have no knowledge about that, nor would I expect to or should I have knowledge about it.
"And he asks about the publication and I have already indicated that the findings of the investigation will be published."
Meanwhile, Tory MP Sir Edward Leigh said: “When Europe stands on the brink of war and there is a cost of living crisis, can we please have a sense of proportion over the Prime Minister being given a piece of cake in his own office by his own staff.”
Ellis replied: “I completely agree.”
It comes as the PM's spokesman said that Gray will pause investigating or publishing any party allegations under review by the police, but will be free to publish other matters in the inquiry.
Gray's report was expected to be released this week before the Met investigation was announced
The spokesman said: “As the terms of reference make clear, they won’t publish anything that relates to the work of the police, there are a number of events and allegations that they have looked into that the police said don’t reach their threshold, which they are able to continue looking into.
“And it is my understanding that they will be able to publish detail about those events rather than ones which the police might be taking forward.”
He added: “It’s up to the investigation team when they publish, it’s my understanding they are able to publish the aspects that aren’t a matter for the police.”
The spokesman added that Johnson is willing to be interviewed by police but does not believe he has broken the law.
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