Boris Johnson is being allowed to learn proof gathered about him by the inquiry into the No 10 events earlier than answering police questions, a leaked letter reveals.
Sue Grey has granted permission to everybody underneath investigation – all Downing Avenue employees and the prime minister – restricted entry to notes taken about them by her inquiry.
The letter, seen by ITV Information, says she is permitting the entry “as an distinctive measure”, pointing to the “explicit circumstances surrounding this set of occasions”.
Dated 17 February, it reads: “I admire that it is a worrying time for these affected by this course of, which I don’t want to compound,” ITV mentioned.
The transfer – revealed forward of Friday evening’s deadline for Mr Johnson to submit his authorized questionnaire – means he and all these underneath investigation will know what data the police maintain on them, earlier than responding.
It raises questions on whether or not, if a person learns there may be nothing incriminating within the notes on them, she or he will volunteer any further data to the Met.
Mr Johnson is believed to be working in Downing Avenue at the moment, forward of flying to the Munich safety convention on Saturday to ship a speech on Russia’s menace to Ukraine.
Ms Grey has set strict situations on the entry allowed, together with that it have to be “with a member of the investigation staff current” and be “time restricted”.
“You’ll, in step with the method for investigations of this sort and consistent with the interview course of, not be allowed to deliver any authorized consultant with you.” ITV mentioned she has written.
“You’ll not be permitted to deliver telephones, tablets, computer systems or some other recording gear into the room with you.
“You’ll not be permitted to problem, recommend modifications or amendments to the notes or in any other case problem their contents.”
Mr Johnson remains to be combating for his political life and can come underneath large strain to stop whether it is confirmed he attended, or knew about, any events that broke the regulation.
He has employed a private lawyer to assist him draft his response to questionnaire, during which he’ll argue it was a part of his working day when he attended as many as six completely different gatherings.
The prime minister is in biggest hazard over the ‘deliver your personal bottle’ social gathering within the No 10 backyard, in Could 2020, which he has admitted attending – whereas claiming he didn’t realise it was a celebration.
He has additionally not denied attending the ‘ABBA social gathering’ in his flat in November 2020 – to have fun Dominic Cummings’ departure – and seems to be making ready to argue he was working whereas it went on.
Final month, Ms Grey handed her proof – together with round 300 pictures – to the Met, which launched a separate investigation that has delayed the publication of her report.
Questionnaires have been despatched to round 80 individuals underneath investigation, who could also be issued with fixed-penalty notices if they’ve damaged Covid guidelines.
Workers won’t be allowed to view any data Ms Grey gathered on anybody besides themselves.
Kaynak: briturkish.com
