Dorset MP hits out at Met Police over Sue Gray report request

Conservative MP Sir Christopher Chope, who represents Christchurch, made the claim following reports Scotland Yard had urged Sue Gray to limit the publication of her investigation into allegations of lockdown-breaking parties in Number 10 Downing Street.

The Metropolitan Police asked the senior civil servant to make only “minimal reference” to events now subject to a criminal investigation, throwing her report into disarray and potentially buying more time for Boris Johnson as he faces a threat to his leadership.

• Read more: Met Police ask Sue Gray to remove details from Downing Street parties report

Raising a point of order in the House of Commons on the afternoon of Friday, January 28, Sir Christopher asked the deputy speaker if she had “been able to express your views about the issues which are currently confronting the Government which relate directly to the separation of powers".

“I thought that it was this House which held the Government to account for its policies, and not the Metropolitan Police," the veteran MP said.

He added: “There is no reason for the Metropolitan Police to be able to require Sue Gray not to issue her report in an unamended way for the benefit of the Prime Minister who ordered that report, and for this House, which is eager to see that report.

“It seems that the Metropolitan Police is usurping its position by seeking to interfere in the affairs of state without there being any criminal offences or any grounds for them carrying out such interference.”

Deputy Commons Speaker Dame Rosie Winterton said: “It is not a matter for the chair.”

The Metropolitan Police argued the constraints on the Cabinet Office report are necessary to “avoid any prejudice to our investigation”, meaning it faces being watered down or a lengthy delay.

Earlier in the House of Commons, Sir Christopher said the Metropolitan Police stance was a “specious justification”.

Christchurch MP Sir Christopher Chope

He said: “We have got the spectacle today of the Metropolitan Police seeking to interfere with the content of Sue Gray’s report on the specious justification that it wishes to prevent prejudice to a criminal investigation.

“Yet the only law on the statute book in relation to prejudicing a criminal investigation is relating to proceeds of crime legislation, which is certainly not what we are talking about at the moment.”

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Ken Macdonald, the former director of public prosecutions (DPP), said the move seems “disproportionate” in the face of “very powerful” public interest in the report’s swift publication, unless there is “more serious conduct” being investigated.

In a statement on Friday morning, Scotland Yard said: “For the events the Met is investigating, we asked for minimal reference to be made in the Cabinet Office report.

“The Met did not ask for any limitations on other events in the report, or for the report to be delayed, but we have had ongoing contact with the Cabinet Office, including on the content of the report, to avoid any prejudice to our investigation.”

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The statement indicates Ms Gray will either have to make significant changes to her report before publication or delay it until after the police inquiry concludes.