Source: Global Times
British Prime Minister's "Party Gate" investigation report will be released, British media: Johnson will usher in the "most dangerous 24 hours"
[Global Times special correspondent in the United Kingdom Sun Wei Global Times special correspondent Wang Xiaoxiong] The investigation report of senior British civil servant Gray on the "party gate" will be released as early as the 26th local time, and a day before, the London police announced that they would investigate British Prime Minister Johnson and other senior government officials suspected of violating epidemic prevention regulations. "Johnson ushered in the most dangerous 24 hours of his prime ministerial term." Britain's Daily Mail described Johnson's current situation on Tuesday.
According to the Financial Times, Reuters and other media, sources who listened to Gray's investigation briefing said that the "PartyGate" investigation report is several pages long and will only give investigation conclusions, not including investigation evidence such as photos. Gray will submit the report to Johnson for review before releasing it. The British prime minister is expected to receive the report on Wednesday, which will be released later on Wednesday or on Thursday. As of the morning of the 26th, 10 Downing Street had not received Gray's report. 10 Downing Street has denied attempting to delay the release of the investigation report.
During the prime minister's questioning session in parliament on the 26th, when Labor Leader Stammer asked Johnson to promise to publish the full text of Gray's report, the prime minister did not give a clear answer. According to the British "Guardian" newspaper, the questioning activities on the day were very chaotic, and the speaker of the House of Commons, Hoyle, once warned the shouting MPs that they could be expelled from the House of Commons. Stammer demanded Johnson's immediate resignation, saying the latter misled parliament and that his attempt to save his career was wreaking havoc on public trust. Johnson was reluctant to discuss the "Partygate" report, but also believed he should resign if he was found to have misled Parliament.
The "Partygate" report has yet to be released, but Gray's investigation has sparked a criminal investigation into Johnson and others. A number of British media reported that London Police Commissioner Dick announced on the morning of the 25th that he would investigate whether 10 Downing Street and Whitehall officials had violated the epidemic prevention and control regulations in the past two years. The police wanted to investigate Johnson and others because they had evidence from Gray's investigation. A senior Conservative official told The Guardian that the police investigation was a "different game" and that officials who did not tell Gray the full truth would not hide anything from the police. If they are found to have violated the regulations, the maximum penalty for the officials concerned is only a fine of £100, but the political career of the violator may end. In addition, Johnson could become the first prime minister in decades to be questioned by police as a suspect. Johnson said on the 25th that he welcomed the police's investigation decision and believed that the investigation would clarify the facts to the public. Notably, Johnson was previously informed of the police investigation, but he did not announce it to members of his cabinet at Tuesday's meeting.
Many Conservative MPs are waiting for Gray's report to decide whether to launch a vote of no confidence in Johnson. A former British official hinted that the Conservative parliamentarian group 1922 Committee had received 40 letters calling for a vote of no confidence in Johnson, just 14 letters away from the threshold for triggering a vote of no confidence. The American Broadcasting Corporation analyzed Johnson's future political career on the 25th. If the "Partygate" investigative report finds johnson to be at fault, he will continue to serve as prime minister; if the report believes that Johnson has deliberately misled Parliament, he will resign for violating the code of conduct for cabinet officials; if the report does not show that Johnson lied to parliament, but the issues involved are very serious, then Johnson's reputation will be damaged and he will be asked to resign; Conservative MPs will no longer trust Johnson and launch a vote of no confidence in the latter.
If Johnson wins the support of more than 50% of conservative MPs in a vote of no confidence, he will continue to serve as prime minister, and the Conservative Party will not be able to vote no confidence in Johnson for 12 months; if Johnson does not have the support of more than half of the Conservative MPs, he will be removed and cannot run for the top of the party again. If Johnson resigns, he will serve as caretaker prime minister until a new prime minister is elected, or a member of the cabinet will serve as prime minister until a new prime minister is "born." The British "Mirror" said that if Johnson resigns before the new prime minister is elected, the ruling party will decide the new prime minister, and British Deputy Prime Minister Raab is most likely to become Johnson's successor.
Johnson doesn't think he's making a mistake. He told his subordinates that he would fight to keep his position as prime minister. According to the Financial Times, Johnson is expected to announce a restructuring of Downing Street after the "PartyGate" report is released. One Conservative MP said what mattered was not what was written in Gray's report, but how Johnson responded. A British official revealed that Johnson was optimistic, and the leader had previously told his subordinates that "we will get through this". A Conservative backbencher said Johnson's team had "been working hard" to win over MPs who were trying to demand his ouster. There are also many Conservative MPs who have expressed support for Johnson. They dismiss the accusations against the prime minister as unreasonable.