While I have commented (and replied to correspondence from constituents) many times throughout the police investigation - and Sue’s Cabinet Office inquiry - I promised I would say more after its’ publication on what has been happening inside No.10 and what I think should happen next.
I have represented Winchester & Chandler’s Ford since 2010 and, even my most bitter opponents, would struggle to say I haven’t worked tirelessly in the constituency, in Parliament and for a number of years in Government as a Health Minister. I hope I have always acted with integrity and done my job for all constituents whether they support me or not.
There is no question in my mind, the events collectively known as ‘party-gate’, have created a sense of great disappointment and mistrust in our Government and the Conservative Party. This is neither sustainable for the country or fair on good people (including MPs) just doing their job.
The Gray report did not, if I am being honest, tell me much I wasn’t already aware of but it’s a comprehensive piece of work and taken together with everything else provides a much fuller picture of what went on and why. What is new, and I think the report is shocking in this respect, is it’s clear officials at No.10 were aware what was going on (“we think we’ve got away with it”) and of course the Privileges Committee of the House of Commons will now look at whether the PM misled Parliament in that respect.
For me also, new revelations in the Sue Gray report that staff and cleaners were not treated properly is deeply disappointing and speaks to a culture inside Downing Street which I find distasteful to put it mildly. It was right for the Prime Minister to apologise to them and I note a number of reforms that Sue Gray has welcomed in her final report. Yes, all the senior management at No.10 have changed since these events – except the PM – and that’s a problem.
There is of course a bigger picture here about leadership, honesty and decency. Not whether this Prime Minister can get away with it, but whether he should.
I said some time ago, I thought it was inevitable the Prime Minister would face a vote of confidence among Conservative MPs (it was widely reported) and I haven’t changed my view. All I can do as a backbencher is seek to trigger that process and (some time ago actually) I have done that.
I have said throughout this sorry saga I cannot and will not defend the indefensible. Rule makers cannot be law-breakers. We do need to move on but we cannot do that without regaining public trust and I am quite sure that’s not possible in the current situation.
There are so many pressing issues facing our country and the world at this time. For my part I will get on with the job I was elected to do and you can follow that via all the links below. You can also sign up to my regular email newsletter on my homepage at www.stevebrine.com
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