Martin Reynolds is among the most senior officers in No 10 however had largely averted the limelight till the emergence of his e-mail inviting colleagues to “socially-distanced drinks” throughout England’s first coronavirus lockdown.
As Boris Johnson’s principal non-public secretary (PPS), he performs a key position advising the prime minister on a variety of points.
He served because the UK’s ambassador to Libya earlier than being appointed to the position on the coronary heart of No 10 in October 2019.
The Cambridge graduate had beforehand served in a variety of Overseas Workplace roles in Whitehall, South Africa and Brussels.
Earlier than becoming a member of the Overseas Workplace, he was a Metropolis lawyer.
Mr Johnson’s former adviser Dominic Cummings mentioned the affect wielded by the principal non-public secretary inside Downing Road was not extensively appreciated.
“The PPS workouts much more affect and precise energy over many points than Cupboard ministers,” Mr Cummings mentioned.
“He can nudge coverage, he can nudge very important appointments (actual energy). He can and does stroll into the PM’s workplace and exclude all political individuals ‘on safety grounds’.”
A leaked {photograph} of the prime minister and officers consuming within the No 10 backyard on 15 Could 2020 – 5 days earlier than the “convey your personal booze” occasion that Mr Reynolds invited colleagues to – confirmed the PPS sat on the identical desk as Mr Johnson.
Mr Cummings used a weblog final week to defend the 15 Could gathering, at which he was pictured on the identical desk as Mr Reynolds, the prime minister and Carrie Johnson.
Nonetheless, he mentioned a “senior No10 official” invited individuals to “socially-distanced drinks” within the backyard on 20 Could – an obvious reference to the e-mail despatched by Mr Reynolds.
Martin Reynolds (again left), the prime minister’s principal non-public secretary, attends a Cupboard assembly
(Jeremy Selwyn/Night Customary/PA)
Mr Cummings mentioned that he and “no less than one different” particular adviser warned “this appeared to be in opposition to the principles and shouldn’t occur”.
“For my part the official who organised this could anyway have been eliminated that summer season due to his failures over Covid,” Mr Cummings added.
“I mentioned this repeatedly to the PM. The PM rejected my argument.”
Mr Johnson has since admitted he attended the 20 Could occasion, apologising earlier than the Home of Commons throughout Prime Minister’s Questions and explaining, considerably improbably, that he believed it had been a “work occasion” and never a celebration.
He was ridiculed for his bother by opposition Labour chief Sir Keir Starmer and has confronted repeated calls to resign.
Whitehall mandarin Sue Grey has since delivered her long-delayed report on the events to the prime minister and a model of it has been launched, albeit heavily-redacted on the request of the Metropolitan Police, now finishing up an investigation of its personal.
Ms Grey’s 12-page “replace” on the “Partygate” scandal blasted “failures of management and judgement” in Downing Road and the Cupboard Workplace, describing the behaviour of some personnel as “tough to justify”.
In a scathing touch upon the tradition at No 10 underneath Mr Johnson’s management, the senior civil servant wrote: “A few of the gatherings in query signify a severe failure to look at not simply the excessive requirements anticipated of these working on the coronary heart of presidency but additionally of the requirements anticipated of the complete British inhabitants on the time.”
Her report additionally revealed that the PM’s birthday celebration is amongst a dozen gatherings being investigated by Scotland Yard, as is an alleged occasion within the prime minister’s non-public flat.
Kaynak: briturkish.com
