Sue Gray investigating two Downing Street parties held on eve of Prince Philip’s funeral

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Sue Gray, the civil servant overseeing the probe into alleged lockdown-breaking government parties, is investigating the two leaving events held in Downing Street the night before Prince Philip’s funeral, The Daily Telegraph understands. 

Downing Street staff drank alcohol into the early hours the night before the socially distanced funeral. The Telegraph revealed last night. Two leaving parties were held – one for James Slack, Boris Johnson’s former director of communications, who this morning apologised.

On the evening in question, Britain was in a period of public mourning as Union flags on Government buildings hung at half-mast, while Covid restrictions banned indoor mixing.

Mr Slack, who is now deputy editor of the Sun newspaper, said in a statement: “I wish to apologise unreservedly for the anger and hurt caused. This event should not have happened at the time that it did. I am deeply sorry, and take full responsibility.”

Damian Hinds, the security minister, said he still fully supported Boris Johnson, who was at Chequers on April 16, 2021, but was “shocked” to have read the Telegraph’s reports as he urged the public to wait for the outcome of Sue Gray’s investigation.

“It’s important that we’re able in a deliberative democracy to have a senior civil servant look at all of these things in the round and make an assessment in the round,” he told Sky News.

​​Follow the latest updates below.


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