✕CloseBoris Johnson seen for first time since Partygate defence dossier published
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Boris Johnson has said he is “very much” looking forward to his televised appearance before MPs investigating whether he knowingly misled parliament over Partygate.
In a statement ahead of Wednesday’s hearing of the privileges committee, the former prime minister said: “I look forward very much to the committee session tomorrow.
“I believe that the evidence conclusively shows that I did not knowingly or recklessly mislead Parliament. The committee has produced not a shred of evidence to show that I have.”
Mr Johnson said he accepts that he misled Parliament but said there was “no evidence” he did so intentionally, insisting his statements to the Commons regarding the Partygate scandal were in “good faith”.
He submitted his dossier of evidence to the privileges committee yesterday, while facing claims of bullying and intimidation as allies tried to discredit the probe.
In his legal argument, Mr Johnson insisted he was not warned that gatherings in Downing Street during the pandemic broke lockdown rules. He said that after learning they had, he corrected the record at the “earliest opportunity”.
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What made life tough was the occasional re-emergence of Mark Francois, given that his stupidity is so profound it comes with its own magnetic field, writes Tom Peck.
His role, since 2016, has been to turn up not when something stupid has happened, but when something sensible has happened, and to then say no to it, on account of it not being stupid enough for him.
The Brexiteers of the ERG have no choice but to live in fantasyland | Tom Peck
Mark Francois has delivered yet another yet another rhapsody on the theme of 'no' over the Windsor Framework
Emily Atkinson21 March 2023 22:001679434209
Rishi Sunak declines invitation to discuss NI protocol negotiations
European Scrutiny Committee chair Sir William Cash has said prime minister Rishi Sunak declined an invitation to speak to the committee around the government’s negotiations around the Northern Ireland Protocol.
He complained it had “proven exceptionally difficult” to secure a minister to appear before the committee, as Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris appeared to answer questions.
Sir William added: “We were promised engagement but the government has failed to deliver anything meaningful … it appears clear to us that the government set its course weeks if not months ago and has done all it can to avoid being diverted from it.
“The Windsor Framework is a significant development in the UK’s post-Brexit relationship with the EU, it’s legal complexity speaks for us and there is a vast amount of paperwork, and its provisions will impact the people and businesses of Northern Ireland and Great Britain.”
Emily Atkinson21 March 2023 21:301679432409
We need to do more on the generators of growth, says former Tory minister
A Tory former cabinet minister has said “we need to do more on the generators of growth”.
Simon Clarke, who served as communities secretary under Liz Truss and recently set up the Conservative Growth Group, told the Commons there were many welcomed measures in the Budget.
However, he noted “there were of course some aspects which I wish had been different”, adding: “I’ve made no secret of my deep concern about the decisions surrounding the future of our corporation tax increases. I think we’ve seen the consequences already with the decision of AstraZeneca to choose the Republic of Ireland over the UK for their next investment.
“I do welcome the offsetting benefits of the full expensing which was announced by the chancellor. If that is to work, it is vital that is a permanent decision rather than temporary relief otherwise it will have a distorting effect on business investment.”
He went on: “I also believe and this will not surprise members across the House that we need to do more on the generators of growth more generally. I would particularly point out the importance of housing…We know that in the end the only sustainable way to improve our economic activity in this space but also the social justice of our housing debate is to build more homes, addressing the challenges of both nimbyism, but also nutrient neutrality.”
Emily Atkinson21 March 2023 21:001679430609
Watch: Boris Johnson seen for first time since Partygate defence dossier published
✕Boris Johnson seen for first time since Partygate defence dossier publishedEmily Atkinson21 March 2023 20:301679428809
Important to have Stormont brake in place ‘sooner rather than later’, says NI secretary
Asked whether a vote in the House of Commons on Wednesday is being regarded as a “meaningful vote” on the whole Windsor Framework, Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said it is a vote on the statutory instrument that activates the Stormont brake.
He told the European Scrutiny Committee that is important to have the Stormont brake in place “sooner rather than later because there has been a lot of speculation as to what it does and what it can’t do”.
“This codifies it in black and white so people can actually see it for itself as a very important part of that democratic check,” he said.
Emily Atkinson21 March 2023 20:001679427009
Johnson ‘very much looking forward’ to hearing
Boris Johnson has said he is “very much” looking forward to his appearance before MPs investigating whether he knowingly misled Parliament over Partygate.
In a statement ahead of Wednesday’s hearing of the Commons Privileges Committee, the former prime minister said: “I look forward very much to the committee session tomorrow.
“I believe that the evidence conclusively shows that I did not knowingly or recklessly mislead Parliament.
“The committee has produced not a shred of evidence to show that I have.”
Emily Atkinson21 March 2023 19:301679425809
Gary Lineker in pointed ‘fibs’ tweets after Boris Johnson’s Partygate defence published
Gary Lineker has tweeted about people who “constantly tell fibs” less than an hour after Boris Johnson’s legal defence over Partygate was published.
The former PM insisted in his written evidence to the inquiry that his denials over lockdown parties in No 10 were made “in good faith” and based on what he “honestly” knew at the time.
The BBC football presenter tweeted: “When folk constantly tell fibs, it’s really difficult to know when they’re telling the truth. I imagine it’s even a challenge for themselves.”
Our political correspondent Adam Forrest reports:
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Emily Atkinson21 March 2023 19:101679424609
No 10 rejects ERG’s criticism of Windsor Framework
Downing Street has rejected criticism from the European Research Group of the Stormont brake and the prime minister’s Windsor Framework deal.
The ERG called the brake “practically useless”.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “The brake addresses the democratic deficit and provides a clear democratic safeguard for the people of Northern Ireland.
“It goes further than the July 2021 command paper and the Bill, ends the ratchet of automatic presumption of dynamic alignment, it puts the arrangements in Northern Ireland under a new framework of democratic control. It covers all the rules that could cause issues for Northern Ireland and is a matter for the UK alone, with no role for the European Union in deciding when the brake is used or agreeing whether the rule is disapplied.
“Clearly we don’t accept that characterisation,” he said.
Emily Atkinson21 March 2023 18:501679423409
Watch: Key moments from Boris Johnson's Partygate 'dossier'
✕Key moments from Boris Johnson's Partygate 'dossier'Emily Atkinson21 March 2023 18:301679422209
No 10 refuses to be drawn over ex-PM’s dossier
Downing Street refused to be drawn on Boris Johnson’s claim that it “remains unclear” to him, and possibly prime minister Rishi Sunak, about why they were fined for breaching lockdown laws.
The claim came in his submission to the Privileges Committee.
The prime minister’s official spokesman referred to Mr Sunak’s statement at the time, saying: “You’ll remember the prime minister and then chancellor issued a statement at the time and I think he set out his position and views very clearly on that. I don’t have any more to add to what he said.”
The spokesman said that Mr Sunak would not be watching Mr Johnson’s appearance before the Privileges Committee on Wednesday.
Emily Atkinson21 March 2023 18:10
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