British politics has had a tumultuous entry into 2022. Public disquiet over allegations that emerged in December suggesting Downing Street staff held several illegal gatherings throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has spilt into the New Year at full force. The Government’s initial insistence that the claims were unsubstantiated has only helped public outrage gather pace. After a stark increase in the number of alleged gatherings, accompanied by hard evidence in the form of photos, emails, or videos, the Government finally accepted defeat on the 19th of January in the form of an apology from the Prime Minister in the House of Commons.

He said, ‘I should have recognised that even if the gathering could be said technically to fall within the guidance, there would be millions and millions of people who simply would not see it that way’.

However, ‘partygate’ was far from over. Last week a photo emerged that proved to be the cherry on the cake – figuratively and literally. It showed Boris Johnson enjoying a birthday celebration in June 2020 when public health restrictions remained in place. The nation now eagerly awaits the infamous Sue Gray report-turned-soundbite that will inevitably be a defining moment of the Johnson premiership.

The Sue Gray report: What is it?

The Cabinet Office report into the ‘partygate’ scandal was originally ordered by Johnson after he declared that he was ‘furious’ at the prospect of Downing Street staff having had illegal gatherings. However, just a week after instructing the Chief Cabinet Secretary, Simon Case, to lead the inquiry, Case recused himself from the probe, announcing a conflict of interest. Case revealed that he had actually held one of the gatherings in his own private office. This only amplified public anger and served as a powerful reminder as to how truly embedded this culture is within Downing Street.

Sue Gray, a senior civil servant serving as Second Permanent Secretary in the Cabinet Office, picked up the reins. In the course of a few days, Gray’s reputation for being ‘the most powerful person you’ve never heard of’ was shattered. The demarcations of the investigation – originally just focusing on three events between November and December 2021 – have expanded significantly as revelations continue to surface. The report holds little legal bearing, and no political weight to force a resignation, but instead aims to establish the lawfulness of the gatherings that took place throughout 2020 and 2021.

However, with speculation that over 70 party members are already preparing the move against Johnson, the findings will have a monumental impact on Johnson’s future.

Hiding in plain sight

The culture within Downing Street, and the revelations that have emerged within the last few weeks, can be labelled a lot of things – but surprising is not one of them. The hallmark of Johnson’s public and private career has been to flout the rules and then obfuscate, dismiss, or downplay the severity of his actions as a means of sidestepping any form of accountability. Examples abound – including fabricating a quote from his godfather which ultimately lost him his job at the Times, or popularising myths about extreme EU legislation such as a ban on bendy bananas and the introduction of ‘eurocoffins’. In his personal life, he appears to employ the same tactics – something that cost him a job on Michael Howard’s front bench in 2003 after he claimed allegations of an extramarital affair with Petronella Wyatt were an ‘inverted pyramid of piffle’. It was later found to be true.

Despite his denial, evidence is emerging to increasingly suggest that Johnson was not only aware of the gatherings, but also participated. Some reports even suggest Johnson berated others for following the rules – stating they were ‘overreacting’. However, rather than being anomalous for Johnson, this disregard for rule of law has shaped his public and private life for almost three decades. He has admitted himself that his mistakes are ‘too numerous to list in full’. Since becoming Prime Minister, he has already attempted to break international and domestic law, for example by introducing the Internal Market Bill or proroguing Parliament. This has likely encouraged a culture of legislative superiority within Downing Street.

Conservatives in crisis?

With Johnson at the centre of the partygate scandal, the Conservative party have borne the electoral brunt. An aura of sleaze and deceit once again clouds them. In just over a month, this played a part in losing the Tories two Parliamentary seats – one through a by-election and another through a dramatic defection. This has created vibrations within the party – and not just among the usual backbench suspects. David Davis, a familiar face on the front bench and a long-term ally of Johnson, paved the way for Johnson’s usurpation when he voiced his disdain in Prime Minister’s Questions.

‘I expect my leaders to shoulder the responsibility for the actions they take’, he said. ‘Yesterday he did the opposite of that. So, I will remind him of a quotation which may be familiar to his ear: Leopold Amery to Neville Chamberlain. “You have sat too long here for any good you have been doing. In the name of God, go.”’

In the background, age-old issues are beginning to manifest that have proved terminal to countless preceding incumbent Governments. Rising inflation driven by petrol and energy bill hikes is creating a cost of living crisis. The NHS is under severe pressure to catch up with a COVID induced backlog while operating at a reduced capacity. Internationally, tensions have peaked between Ukraine and Russia, with the prospect of a war breaking out. It’s vital that the Conservative party don’t fixate on internal party politics and jeopardise the production of substantive policy as a result. Similarly, Labour must also tread the tightrope between pointing attention towards the Government’s internal misconduct whilst still giving sufficient attention to scrutinising public policy.

All in a week’s work

It’s likely that the week ahead will set the scene for 2022. The muscular intervention from the Met Police to delay the report – in a bid to ensure it does not interfere with its criminal investigations into the matter – have left an already impatient nation waiting with bated breath. However, reports suggest that a diluted version will be released early this week. Only time will tell as to whether Johnson’s aversion to rules has finally cost him his premiership.

About the author: Jessica Culnane is a contributing Features Writer with in-depth knowledge of policy, politics, and economics. She’s interested in technological advancements, business developments, data, and culture.