Busted? or kicked into long grass behind the Prosecco table? #partygate

[Simulation] 

THE LONG GRASS 

The Sue Gray Report is due out last Friday, Monday, Tuesday 'mid-week', but news the Met will investigate potential criminality takes the scandal to an entirely new level and may cause the report to be with-held. 

It could take the Met investigation as long as, say, past the next General Election?

See the moves: The Met was presented with ‘outline findings’ from the Gray report, suggesting it has uncovered evidence of potential law-breaking. Clever to pass it over in time for the Met to react and potentially create a new log-jam.

Commissioner Cressida Dick said: ‘As you well know, [the Cabinet Office] have been carrying out an investigation over the last few weeks. 

‘What I can tell you this morning is that as a result, firstly of the information provided by the Cabinet Office inquiry team, and secondly, my officers’ own assessment, I can confirm that the Met is now investigating a number of events that took place at Downing Street and Whitehall in the last two years in relation to potential breaches of Covid-19 regulations. 

 ‘My officers have assessed several other events that appear to have taken place at Downing Street and Whitehall on the available information – these other events are assessed as not reaching the threshold for criminal investigation.’ 

 It’s unclear which of the several allegations covering Downing Street and other government departments will be included in the scope of the inquiry. 

She said the force would not provide a ‘running commentary’ on the investigation and could not say when it would be expected to report back. 

Jane Conners, Depity Assistant Commissioner, has been thrown the hospital pass. I expect new hashtags are being formulated right now.

The Met 'has written to the Cabinet Office this morning with a formal request for it to refer all relevant information gathered from its inquiry in relation to events on the dates in question to support the police investigations’. 

There is already speculation that Sue Gray's Cabinet Office inquiry will need to be suspended while the police probe is carried out, and that the police investigation could take as long as - er- past the next General Election.