In its latest update on the investigation into the Downing Street ‘partygate’ scandal, the Metropolitan Police force has confirmed that it has sent out 100 questionnaires to date and begun interviewing “key witnesses”.
The statement reads: “To date, over 100 questionnaires have been sent out asking the recipients about their participation in alleged gatherings.
“The questionnaires provide recipients with the opportunity to give an account of their involvement and the responses form part of the investigative material for the operation.
“As a result of responses so far, further individuals have been identified and questionnaires sent to them.
“As the investigation continues, we may need to contact more people as further information comes to light.”
The police probe was first launched in January after multiple reports emerged about gatherings being held in Downing Street and Whitehall while Covid restrictions were in place.
12 gatherings are being investigated as part of the investigation, with prime minister Boris Johnson known to have attended three of them.
One alleged event is said to have been hosted at the PM’s Downing Street flat during November 2020, but Johnson has remained tight-lipped on whether he was in attendance. Both the PM and chancellor, Rishi Sunak, received questionnaires from the police asking them to explain their role in the gatherings.
While the Met confirmed that no fixed penalty notices had yet been handed out for Covid rule breaking around the events, it did say that “referrals will be made” should the “evidential threshold” be reached against any individual.
Once the Met investigation has concluded, senior civil servant Sue Gray - who was initially tasked with looking into the string of parties - has said that her redacted report first released in January will be updated to include any information initially held back.
Gray’s findings at the time uncovered “failures of leadership and judgement” in allowing the gatherings to take place, and a concerning culture around workplace drinking.
Gray was unable to publish her full report earlier in the year, following a request to hold back any details that could “prejudice” the Met’s own investigation.
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