Thread by @AdamWagner1

I think this is a fair point. Sue Gray is not independent in any sense would stand up legally e.g. if an independent inquiry was required for human rights legal purposes. Not questioning her integrity but this is best though of as an internal not independent inquiry

https://twitter.com/wesstreeting/status/1481398894827294721

Sue Gray is in a very difficult position. Previously eg with the Damian Green inquiry she was investigating an MP. Here she is investigating her direct boss (Simon Case) and his boss (Boris Johnston) amongst others including I assume her senior colleagues. It’s almost impossible

One thing that hasn’t really been focused on but is important is that Simon Case was also said to be independent but turned out, not by his own admission, had held his own gathering - and remember just as that was revealed ministers were suggesting he was about to exonerate

There may well be value in the ultimate report but it won’t be properly independent. I have met a lot of senior civil servants in my work and they do have high levels of integrity but there is also an element of Sir Humphreyness

The other difficulty for Gray is that she is not a lawyer but is having to decide whether there is evidence of a criminal offence, in the context of quite difficult and novel Covid laws such that it will be provided to the police. How will she manage that? Ask govt lawyers?