Boris Johnson personally apologized to the staff at No 10 Downing Street for the partygate scandal, according to Guto Harri, his former communications chief. Harri recalled how Johnson made a point of expressing his remorse directly to the staff after the publication of Sue Gray’s report on lockdown gatherings in May 2022. The former prime minister had previously stated that he was “appalled” by the mistreatment of security guards and cleaners during the parties. In Harri’s LBC podcast, he revealed that Johnson went into every room in No 10 to apologize, acknowledging the hardships endured by the individuals and stating that such behavior was unacceptable in that context.
Response from the staff was generally positive, with many reassuring Johnson that he had never been rude to them personally. It is important to note that the individuals identified in Sue Gray’s report were unnamed officials or special advisers, rather than Boris Johnson himself, although he took responsibility for the actions that occurred under his leadership.
Harri also expressed skepticism about the new police investigation into partygate, which has alleged that Johnson violated lockdown rules at his official residence, Chequers. He questioned the value of opening a new front in the investigation and prolonging the outcome of the privileges committee. Harri argued that the public has heard enough and formed their own opinions on the matter.
Regarding the Sue Gray report, Harri revealed that Johnson was quite emotional the night before its publication. The media’s desire for a high-profile outcome had led them to view Gray’s report as the next opportunity for a significant revelation. Johnson had expected Gray to be tough but fair, but Harri noted a change in her approach. The pressure on Johnson had taken a toll, resulting in heightened emotions overriding reasoning.
Meanwhile, Harri mentioned Johnson’s derogatory comments about Gray, labeling her a “psycho” and the “destroyer of the nation” on different occasions. Parliament’s cross-party privileges committee is currently conducting an inquiry to determine whether Johnson knowingly and recklessly misled Parliament regarding partygate. If the committee finds against him, he could face various sanctions, including suspension from the Commons, which could potentially trigger a by-election.
Harri emphasized that the crucial moment signaling the decline of the Johnson administration was when Tory MPs supported the work of the committee. In their view, despite previous investigations and opportunities for dissent, they still felt the need to allow political opponents to bring down Johnson. Harri characterized this as self-destructive behavior and saw it as a betrayal by Conservative MPs, considering Johnson’s track record of electoral success.
Lastly, Harri condemned the partying of Downing Street officials on the eve of Prince Philip’s funeral, deeming it unforgivable. Notably, Johnson was not present at No 10 during that incident but was instead at his country retreat in Chequers, located 40 miles away.
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