Why Mr Johnson will be cleared by an enquiry

Why Boris Johnson will be more or less cleared

The enquiry will smack Martin Reynolds on the wrist for inappropriate wording of an end of day debriefing and encouraging drinking at work. Prime Minister Johnson may or may not be censured. Senior civil servants and possibly 'advisors' who run the operation will be asked (told) to resign.

End of day debrief

The staff had been working on multiple aspects of the covid response and needed to come together at the end of the day for a debrief. There was nowhere suitable inside so they chose the garden as the safest place to debrief and pull the strands of the day's work. This was allowed within the covid regulations.

It was inappropriate to call the debrief a party and to encourage alcohol. But this is the Prime Minister's informal style of management. He does after all believe in a laissez-faire approach to the economy. Laissez-faire management isn't considered the best but it is a recognised style.

I'm sorry but Sue Gray will have no option but to conclude that the 20th May gathering was an informal work based meeting and no law was broken on that occasion.

The police would come to the same conclusion.

Informal end of day debriefs with alcohol are part of the Downing street work culture and have been for years.

Similar work based outside meetings across the country

(Minus the party atmosphere and alcohol).

During this period universities held lectures for students doing practical courses and seminars outside because it was deemed safer. Students brought drinks to the lectures and seminars. Lecturers and students had socially distanced meals outside. I saw it at Bournemouth on the front lawn area.

Schools did the same.

Hospital staff took breaks and meals outside and had meetings outside in a socially distanced way. In Bournemouth, it was at the back of the hospital around the lake.

I went to a work based informal meeting held outside at the 'beach' area of Castlepoint (Bournemouth) near the office, we had coffee and sandwiches from M&S.

The same thing was done in offices and factories across Britain.

Other than alcohol and calling it a party, the number 10 staff did nothing that wasn't being done in almost every hospital, university, school, college, factory and office.

Mr Johnson knows it too...