An investigation into parties held at the UK prime minister's Downing Street offices says some gatherings were the result of serious failings by the government. The UK was under a strict Covid lockdown at the time.
The report released on Monday said lockdown-breaching parties involving Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his staff represented a "serious failure" to observe proper standards, DW reported.
Senior civil servant Sue Gray concluded there had been "failures of leadership and judgment" in the government and "some of the events should not have been allowed to take place."
The parties being investigated took place during a strict coronavirus lockdown imposed by Johnson's government, during which people were told to stay at home and not to mix.
The inquiry has been billed as likely to be decisive for the prime minister's political fate.
Gray said police were looking into 12 of the events that met the threshold for criminal investigation, with the possibility that any of those attending, including Johnson, could be fined for breaching Covid rules.
Given the ongoing investigation, the report did not specify whether the regulations had been broken in those cases. However, Gray did make some robust general observations.
"There were failures of leadership and judgment by different parts of No 10 and the cabinet office at different times," said the 12-page report.
"Against the backdrop of the pandemic, when the government was asking citizens to accept far-reaching restrictions on their lives, some of the behavior surrounding these gatherings is difficult to justify."
"At least some of the gatherings in question represent a serious failure to observe not just the high standards expected of those working at the heart of government but also of the standards expected of the entire British population at the time."
Since allegations first started to arise in December, Johnson has faced mounting pressure to stand down, including from lawmakers within his own ranks.
He addressed parliament on Monday afternoon and was set to address all members of his Conservative Party later.
"I want to say sorry," Johnson said, speaking to the House of Commons. I am sorry for the things we simply didn't get right and also sorry for the way this matter has been handled."
"It's no use saying this or that was in the rules and it's no use saying that people were working hard. This pandemic was hard for everyone.”
