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 INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGED GATHERINGS ON GOVERNMENT PREMISES DURING COVID RESTRICTIONS - UPDATE

On 8 December 2021 the Prime Minister asked the Cabinet Secretary to carry out an investigation into allegations reported in the media relating to gatherings in No10 Downing Street and the Department for Education during November and December 2020. On 17 December 2021 the Cabinet Secretary recused himself from the investigation as a result of allegations concerning an online quiz held by his private office in the Cabinet Office on 17 December 2020 in 70 Whitehall. It was at this point that I was asked to lead this work. The terms of reference for the investigation were published on 9 December 2021 (Annex A). The primary purpose of the investigation was to establish a general understanding of the nature of the gatherings including: attendance, the setting and the purpose, with reference to adherence to the guidance in place at the time. Where there were credible allegations relating to other gatherings these could also be investigated. In line with those terms of reference the following events were in scope: 15 May 2020; a photograph showing a number of groups in the garden of No 10 Downing Street; 20 May 2020: a gathering in the garden of No 10 Downing Street for No 10 staff; 18 June 2020: a gathering in the Cabinet Office, 70 Whitehall on the departure of a No 10 private secretary; 19 June 2020: a gathering in the Cabinet room in No 10 Downing Street on the Prime Minister’s birthday; 13 November 2020: a gathering in the No 10 Downing Street flat; a gathering in No 10 Downing Street on the departure of a special adviser;

27 November 2020: a gathering in No 10 Downing Street on the departure of a special adviser; 10 December 2020: a gathering in the Department for Education ahead of the Christmas break; 15 December 2020: a gathering in No 10 Downing Street for an online Christmas quiz;

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