When will Sue Gray’s full report be released, why is it taking so long and what’ll be in it?

Pressure is mounting on Prime Minister Boris Johnson over the so-called Partygate scandal. He currently faces an investigation by the House of Commons Privileges Committee, which will examine claims that he misled Parliament.

Johnson, alongside Chancellor Rishi Sunak, was recently issued with a fine by the Metropolitan Police in relation to the rule-breaking gatherings at Downing Street during lockdown. His opposite number, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, has demanded he resign.

Senior civil servant Sue Gray is still waiting to publish her findings on the matter, with her long-awaited report yet to be released to the public. So when can we expect Sue Gray’s report to be published in full – and what’s likely to be in it?

READ MORE: Boris Johnson faces having to quit because Sue Gray partygate report is so bad

When will the full Sue Gray report be released?

The Guardian quotes unnamed sources as saying that Sue Gray’s full report is unlikely to be published before the end of May. The update Gray published in February held back in its criticism, but the full report is expected to be much tougher.

A Westminster insider told the newspaper that Gray was presumed to be “working towards the end of May as the most likely timetable” for publication. A separate source added that it was “wishful thinking” to believe the report would surface any sooner.

Why is Sue Gray’s report taking so long?

Sue Gray has been unable to publish her full findings on Partygate because Scotland Yard’s investigation into the matter is still ongoing. According to The Guardian, sources close to Gray say she believes that the police investigation will continue for several more weeks.

Once the Scotland Yard probe is concluded, the newspaper says, it could take Sue Gray another couple of weeks to compile her own report. This means it is likely to take another month for the final version to be delivered to Downing Street.

What will be in Sue Gray’s report?

The exact contents of Sue Gray’s findings won’t be known until her full report surfaces, but sources suggest that Boris Johnson’s position could untenable afterwards. The Times quotes top officials as saying that the findings are “damning” for the Prime Minister.

However, Johnson has so far been adamant that he will not resign and that he expects to lead the Conservative Party into the next general election. It has been rumoured that a poor showing in the local elections on May 5th could prompt a Tory leadership challenge.

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