Boris Johnson maintains ‘work events’ defence after damning Gray report

PM says he takes full responsibility but insists it never occurred to him the gatherings he attended broke rules

Boris Johnson has insisted he was oblivious to a culture of excessive drinking and partying in Downing Street during lockdown, despite a damning report laying bare a litany of rule-breaking behaviour at the heart of government.

Sue Gray's final report, published on Wednesday, set out details of 15 events where officials variously spilled red wine on the walls of No 10, vomited, got into a fight, used a karaoke machine, and continued festivities until 4am while the country was subject to strict curbs on socialising.