✕CloseBoris Johnson seen for first time since Partygate defence dossier published
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Boris Johnson said it was “completely wrong” to say he partied during lockdown, as he accused MPs probing whether he misled the House of Commons of bias in their investigation.
After swearing on a bible, he tried to discredit the seven-strong cross-party panel, attacking chair Harriet Harman as “prejudicial” and suggesting the proceedings were “extremely peculiar”.
During his opening statement – which was interrupted by a vote on Northern Ireland – he told the committee “hand on heart I did not lie to the House”.
The former prime minister said it was “necessary” for him to attend leaving drinks for departing aide Lee Cain, adding: “If anyone thinks I was partying during lockdown, they’re completely wrong.”
Mr Johnson must answer claims from one-time aides and No 10 insiders which sit uncomfortably alongside his defence that he was told Covid rules were fully observed at Downing Street parties during lockdown.
If the committee MPs find against him, they will decide a punishment, which could be a written apology, docking of salary or suspension from the Commons for a specific period.
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Show latest update
Watch live: Boris Johnson in Partygate committee hearing
Independent TV is hosting the prime minister’s appearance before the Privileges Committee live on YouTube.
Tune in here:
Liam James22 March 2023 13:541679499214
Boris Johnson: Who is Sir Bernard Jenkin and who else is on the Privileges Committee?
Sir Bernard Jenkin is another veteran MP. A Conservative, he has been in Parliament since 1992.
A veteran Tory Eurosceptic and chairman of the powerful Liaison Committee, he was a critic of Mr Johnson’s handling of the Chris Pincher affair and is an often vocal voice from the backbenches.
More on the panel here:
Liam James22 March 2023 15:331679499129
Dominic Cummings says ‘rat brain’ Boris Johnson calculated evidence
Boris Johnson’s former top aide Dominic Cummings said his former boss was calculating in drawing him into evidence to the Partygate hearing.
In his evidence to the investigation, Mr Johnson said Mr Cummings could not be trusted as a “credible witness” because “he hates me”.
Writing on his blog as the Privileges Committee hearing began, Mr Cummings said Mr Johnson’s reference to him was designed to garner sympathy among MPs for the former prime minister’s position.
“Reason why he’s stressing me is simple — his rat brain tells him that the MPs hate me about as much as they hate him, maybe more!, so he wants them thinking ‘do I want to do what Cummings wants and do the trolley in?’”
Liam James22 March 2023 15:321679498515
‘Completely wrong’ to say I partied in lockdown, says Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson said it was “completely wrong” to say he was partying while ordinary Britons were under lockdown.
The former prime minister said it was “necessary” for him to attend leaving drinks for departing direetor of communication Lee Cain, adding: “If anyone thinks I was partying during lockdown, they’re completely wrong.”
He also says the gathering was “not a party” and he was thanking staff on the day in question.
Former Downing Street advisers Dominic Cummings (left) and Lee Cain are both mentioned in Johnson’s evidence to MPs
(PA)
Liam James22 March 2023 15:211679497971
‘No guidance says you can party'
Tory MP and committee member Sir Bernard Jenkin told Boris Johnson that the Covid-19 guidance “does not say … you can have a thank you party… even if you think it is very important. The guidance does not say that”.
Mr Johnson said the lockdown party for departing director of communications Lee Cain was “was necessary”.
Liam James22 March 2023 15:121679497855
MPs start grilling Boris Johnson on his Partygate claims
MPs have begun their questioning of Boris Johnson. Sir Bernard Jenkin asks the first question of the hearing.
He starts by reminding Mr Johnson of what he was telling the country when these gatherings were taking place at No 10.
“There can be no doubt that you understood what the guidance and rules meant and were intended to to achieve. Yes or no?”
Mr Johnson replies: “Yes.”
Liam James22 March 2023 15:101679497498
Leaving drinks ‘had to happen’, Boris Johnson argues
On the Lee Cain leaving drinks, Boris Johnson said that a leaving do for his former communications chief Lee Cain “had to happen”.
It “was necessary because two senior members of staff… were about to leave the building in … potentially acrimonious circumstances … it was important for me to be there to give reassurance”.
He also described it as an “urgent” meeting.
Earlier in proceedings, he said: “I will believe until the day I die it was my job to thank the staff”
Liam James22 March 2023 15:041679497124
Why would I let photographer into rule-breaking party, Boris Johnson asks
Boris Johnson said it was “nonsense” to suggest that it should have been obvious to him that rules were being broken in No 10 because of the pictures of him at events.
To suggest there were “illicit events in No 10 while allowing these events to be immortalised by an official photographer is staggeringly implausible”.
He said: “It seems to be the view of the committee and sadly many members of the public that they show me attending rule-breaking parties where no one was social distancing. They show nothing of the kind.
“They show me giving a few words of thanks at a work event for a departing colleague. They show me with my red box passing on the way to another meeting or heading back into my flat to carry on working, often late into the night.
“They show a few people standing together – as permitted by the guidance – where full social distancing is not possible and where mitigating measures are taken. They show events which I was never fined for attending.”
One of the Partygate photos seen time and time again in coverage
(PA)
Liam James22 March 2023 14:581679496448
Boris Johnson continues attack on Partygate committee
Boris Johnson said “much of this interrogation is theoretically irrelevant, but I’m going to take that in my stride”.
He said he wants to help the committee understand why he said the comments to Parliament under investigation and “whether I deliberately set out to deceive”.
“I empathically did not,” he adds.
Liam James22 March 2023 14:471679496216
Boris Johnson goes on the attack against ‘prejudical’ Partygate committee
Boris Johnson has attacked the Privileges Committee over what he claims is a prejudical approach to the investigation.
“Everybody knows there are some features of this proceeding which are extremely peculiar,” he said.
He also said committee chair Harriet Harman’s previous comments “prejudge” the outcome. “You have said some things about this matter before reading the evidence … which prejudge what you are adjudicating,” he said.
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