Sue Gray: The civil servant who holds Boris Johnson’s future in her hands

The former publican – who is in charge of the Partygate investigation – is known as a fierce and supremely capable operator, writes Sean O’Grady

Gray was once the government’s in-house watchdog; she’s not the type to be intimidated (Sue Gray)

Sue Gray, the senior civil servant who has been tasked with investigating “Partygate”, has the future of Boris Johnson in her hands. The expectation is that she will declare that, although Johnson did nothing “criminal” – and what a low bar for probity our prime minister has been set! – he has poor judgement. Well, knock us down with a feather, etc.

Waiting has become the Tory watchword, the party being encouraged to say little until the publication of her “findings” – which may not be the full report. But, with ever more Partygate stories dancing onto the front pages by the day, it might turn out to be harsher than has been hinted at.

There is some suggestion (from Dominic Cummings) that Gray and the cabinet secretary, Simon Case, have briefed the PM on their findings thus far. In any case, Gray won’t be producing a “verdict” on whether Johnson should quit, which is beyond her remit. Nonetheless, the spin does have a plausible feel about it, and the chances are the report will be a nuanced, cautious affair, the product of the mind of a consummate civil servant.