The Metropolitan Police has asked Sue Gray, the senior civil servant investigating Downing Street parties held during coronavirus lockdowns, to make “minimal reference” to events it is probing in her report.
The Met said it wanted to “avoid any prejudice to our investigation” into government parties that took place during Covid-19 restrictions.
Whitehall officials said the publication of Gray’s report, which was commissioned by prime minister Boris Johnson, was being held up by concerns it could compromise the police investigation.
Labour and some Conservative MPs have expressed fears the report, which is expected to examine gatherings that Johnson attended during lockdown, could be watered down.
Gray, who is based in the Cabinet Office, concluded work on her report earlier this week.
But she has yet to send it to Downing Street, and one Whitehall official said the announcement on Tuesday of the Metropolitan Police investigation into government parties held over the past two years had thrown a “major spanner into the works”.
Government insiders said the Met’s investigation was mainly responsible for the delay in publishing Gray’s report, because of concerns it might undermine the police work.
The report had been expected to be published on Wednesday, but government insiders said the timetable could slip to Monday next week or later.
The Met confirmed on Thursday it had asked for “minimal reference” to be made in the Gray report to the events it was investigating.
These are reported to be eight government events that the police have assessed as being most likely to warrant investigation for potential criminal offences.
However, the Met indicated it had made no requests in relation to less serious events expected to feature in Gray’s document, and said it had not asked for the report to be delayed.
“But we have had ongoing contact with the Cabinet Office, including on the content of the report, to avoid any prejudice to our investigation,” added the Met.
Johnson on Thursday said the Gray report would be published “in full”, adding he was “absolutely not” seeking to delay its publication.
Gray is eager her report is published in full, with as little information redacted as possible, according to colleagues.
“The moment it is sent to Downing Street will be determined by when she’s decided the report is ready to go, not when it might be beneficial or detrimental for the PM,” said one colleague. “We want to get this over the line as quickly as possible.”
Number 10 could not say when the Gray report would be published. “We haven’t got it and we haven’t had an indication of when it’s going to come,” said one Downing Street official.
Johnson has admitted attending a “bring your own booze” event in the Downing Street garden in May 2020, during England’s first lockdown, but said he thought it was a work event. He also had a birthday party in June 2020 in Downing Street.
Sir Keir Starmer, Labour leader, said Gray’s report should be published in full, adding the party would explore parliamentary procedures to ensure the entire document was put in the public domain.
“We will pursue every option to make sure that report is out in full,” he added.
Mark Harper, a former Conservative chief whip and critic of Johnson, said: “The report must be published in full. Any attempt to conceal or suppress crucial details would be wrong.” His comments on Twitter were endorsed by former Tory minister Steve Baker.
Meanwhile, ministers involved in Johnson’s successful 2019 bid for the Conservative leadership have used the delay in the publication of Gray’s report to try to shore up support for him among Tory MPs.
These include Northern Ireland minister Conor Burns, transport secretary Grant Shapps and Brexit minister Chris Heaton-Harris, and they have told Conservative MPs that Johnson is determined to fight for his job.
“If you think Boris is about to go, think again,” said one Johnson ally, describing the message to MPs.
Johnson’s allies are hoping that a no-confidence vote in the prime minister after the Gray report may be avoided.
A total of 54 Tory MPs must submit letters requesting such a vote to Sir Graham Brady, chair of the 1922 committee of backbench Conservatives, for one to happen. “We are nowhere near 54 letters,” said one Johnson supporter.