Several front pages report on “fury” after the Metropolitan Police asked that Sue Gray’s much-anticipated report into alleged Downing Street lockdown parties carries only “minimal reference” to events the force is investigating. “Gray gagged” is how the i describes the apparent censoring of her report, which it says is due to be published “imminently”.
The Scotsman highlights the Met police came under fire over accusations of a “stitch up”. It says Ms Gray will not wait under the police investigation into Downing Street parties has concluded before she releases her report.
The Times reveals Ms Gray was left frustrated and angered by the Met’s intervention, having shared details of her inquiry with the force throughout. A Whitehall source tells the paper the delayed publication of her report has left her in a “horrible position” with her “integrity at real risk”. The source suggests the delay creates “an air of conspiracy”, warning the publication of a partial report will look like “she’s been got at”. But an ally of Ms Gray’s insists her inquiry team enjoy a “good working relationship” with the Met.
The Scottish Daily Mail carries sharp criticism of Met commissioner Dame Cressida Dick, with one source claiming she had “stuffed it up” by announcing a criminal probe days before Ms Gray’s report was to be published. Whitehall sources tell the paper the intervention risks leaving the government in limbo for months.
In a Blackadder-style spoof of the partygate scandal, the Daily Star of Scotland quips that Dame Cressida “Baldrick” has simply carried out the PM’s “cunning plan” by launching a Met probe into the alleged lockdown parties.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the delay to the publication of Ms Gray’s inquiry is getting “murkier by the minute”, reports the Press and Journal. The paper highlights the PM has dismissed calls to resign from Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross as well as political rivals.
The National also leads with Ms Sturgeon’s reaction to the latest developments. The SNP leader said it appeared that the inquiry process was being used to help keep Mr Johnson in post “at the expense of public accountability”, it reports.
Away from partygate, The Herald leads with the Scottish government’s “radical” plans to allow private firms to buy off the most profitable routes of the ferry network. The paper says ministers have brought in consultants to look at “unbundling routes into smaller packages”, which it says has prompted concerns for the future of state-run operator CalMac.
The Daily Telegraph says the government is under pressure to help families as energy bills are set to rise by nearly 50% to £1,900. The paper reports the “leading” proposal being considered by ministers is cutting VAT from energy bills, but some Tory MPs argue this alone will not be enough to help struggling families. Rather than cancelling the planned National Insurance rise, the Telegraph says ministers are considering freezing council tax and widening access to existing schemes for low-income households.
The Scottish Daily Express says the PM is heading for a “showdown” with Tory rebels over the government’s refusal to cancel the “punishing” hike in National Insurance.
A murder trial heard that a man accused of a fatal shooting was innocent because dead gang member Kevin “Gerbil” Carroll was the killer, reports the Daily Record.
The Weekend Telegraph reports MSPs have called on the Scottish government to back bar staff who have made a litany of allegations against pub chain Macmerry – including the cover up of Covid outbreaks.
The Courier reports the Duke of York has given up his honorary membership of the prestigious Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews in Scotland. It comes after the loss of military titles and royal patronages as he contests a civil sexual assault case in the US.
The family of a girl who died at an after-school club have installed defibrillators in all primary and secondary schools in Aberdeen, reports the Evening Express.
The Edinburgh Evening News reports that Lord Provost Frank Ross and two other SNP councillors who have clashed with city council’s current leadership have been required to go through extra vetting in order to stand again at the local elections.
The Glasgow Times reports a resident in the Gorbals is leading calls for the council to fix a “dangerous” kerb which has caused issues for locals since September.
And “Kiss me quickstep” is the headline of the Scottish Sun’s front page, which carries a photograph apparently showing two Strictly Come Dancing professionals kissing in a Newcastle hotel.
