New Times,
New Thinking.

The Sue Gray report: how bad is it really for Boris Johnson?

The enquiry into Downing Street parties is complete – and the findings are damning.

Sue Gray’s long-awaited report has been published at last. It contains lurid details of excessive drinking and partying at Downing Street during lockdown, as well as a “lack of respect and poor treatment” towards cleaners and security guards. But what does it mean for Boris Johnson?

Anoosh Chakelian, Rachel Cunliffe, Freddie Hayward and Harry Lambert discuss the mood among Tory MPs and why they continue to support Johnson, the “God complex” in Downing Street that created a culture of rule-breaking, and whether the police investigation has in fact saved the PM.

Then in You Ask Us, a listener wonders: what would it take for Tory MPs to oust Johnson?

If you have a question for You Ask Us, email podcasts@newstatesman.co.uk

Podcast listeners can subscribe to the New Statesman for just £1 a week for 12 weeks using our special offer. Just visit newstatesman.com/podcastoffer.

How to listen to the New Statesman Podcast

1. In your browser

You can use the player above to listen in your browser right now. The subscriber edition of the New Statesman Podcast is published here every Monday and Thursday. Why not bookmark this page? You can come back for new episodes twice a week.

2. In a podcast app

The public feed of the New Statesman Podcast is available on all major podcast apps including Apple PodcastsSpotifyAcastGoogle Podcasts, and more. It publishes a day later than this subscriber edition. Search “New Statesman Podcast” in your favourite podcast app.

Give a gift subscription to the New Statesman this Christmas from just £49

3. On your smart speaker

If you have an Amazon Echo, Google Home or Apple HomePod smart speaker, ask it to “play the latest episode of the New Statesman Podcast“. This will play the latest episode in the public feed. The same command also works with virtual assistants on mobile devices.

Content from our partners
Building Britain’s water security
How to solve the teaching crisis
Pitching in to support grassroots football