MAIL ON SUNDAY EXCLUSIVE: Downing Street officials offered COUNSELLING over Partygate inquiry stress

A ‘bullying’ row broke out last night over the Partygate inquiry into Boris Johnson after Downing Street officials were referred for counselling by No. 10 over the stress of the committee’s demands for evidence.

The Mail on Sunday understands that the Commons Privileges Committee, chaired by Labour’s Harriet Harman, has angered civil servants by demanding the evidence they provided in confidence to Sue Gray’s investigation into Covid rule-breaking at No 10.

The officials, who say that handing their information over to politicians drastically increases the chances of them being identified and of private information being disclosed, are being offered a 24/7 helpline providing ‘immediate emotional support’ and video counselling.

The Mail on Sunday understands that the Commons Privileges Committee, chaired by Labour’s Harriet Harman (pictured in 2017), has angered civil servants by demanding the evidence they provided in confidence to Sue Gray’s investigation into Covid rule-breaking at No 10

Many senior Tories regard the probe by the Privileges Committee as a ‘witch-hunt’, which was rendered unnecessary by Mr Johnson’s resignation as Prime Minister earlier this year.

The seven MPs on the committee are investigating whether Mr Johnson misled Parliament in December last year when he denied parties had taken place in No 10.

Ms Harman’s committee has requested access to the evidence obtained by Ms Gray from civil servants working in No 10 and the Cabinet Office, despite Ms Gray – the Second Permanent Secretary in the Cabinet Office – having promised her sources that their evidence would remain confidential.

The PM at a Downing Street quiz night during the lockdown on December 15, 2020

Boris Johnson and staff pictured with wine in Downing Street garden in May 2020 when the UK was under Covid restrictions

The row over officials’ evidence has contributed to delays to the inquiry. It had hoped to summon its first witnesses by the end of October, but will now struggle to do so before Christmas.

A senior Government source said: ‘This has caused such stress among officials that No 10 is paying for some of them to have counselling. 

‘It is basically bullying by the committee. Many of the officials would not have given evidence if they thought it would be used as part of a show trial, and they would certainly not co-operate with any future investigations on this basis.’

A spokesperson for the Committee said: ‘The safety and wellbeing of witnesses is critically important to the Committee, that is why the Committee in its July report raised the question of measures to protect witnesses, and it has been actively considering a range of proposals to achieve this. 

‘As with all responsible inquiries, there are rigorous processes in place to ensure that if wellbeing concerns are raised individuals are given appropriate support.

‘The Committee is focused only on the terms of reference set out by the House of Commons when it unanimously ordered this inquiry to take place, which is what Boris Johnson knew about gatherings in Number 10 and whether what he said to the House was misleading, and if so whether that amounted to a contempt. 

‘The Committee is not looking at any wider issues, and is committed to ensuring the protection and wellbeing of all witnesses who hold evidence germane to the inquiry, including Mr Johnson.’

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