Covid-19

Boris Johnson ‘may have misled Parliament over Partygate’, say investigating MPs

By Medicc Saves
0

Johnson comp

The update from the Privileges Committee’s inquiry comes with Boris Johnson due to give oral evidence in two weeks time (Picture: Getty/PA)

Officials say Boris Johnson possibly misled parliament over the extent of lockdown ruling-breaking during his tenure as prime minister.

The parliamentary Privileges Committee, who are investigating the allegations, issued an update today on their inquiry ahead of Mr Johnson giving oral evidence in public on the week of March 20. 

The group, whose inquiries are being led by Labour MP Harriet Harman, said: ‘The evidence strongly suggests that breaches of guidance would have been obvious to Mr Johnson at the time he was at the gatherings.’

The committee also quoted two WhatsApp messages they say show ‘evidence that those who were advising Mr Johnson about what to say to the press and in the House were themselves struggling to contend that some gatherings were within the rules.’

One of those texts, from then-Downing Street director of communications Jack Doyle in response to possibly describing an event as ‘reasonably necessary for work purposes’, read: ‘not sure that one works does it. 

‘Also blows another great gaping hole in the PM’s account doesn’t it?’

The committee added there was evidence that parliament had been misled in a variety of ways and on different occasions.

A handout photograph released by the UK Parliament shows Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson gesturing as he speaks during Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) in the House of Commons in London on December 8, 2021. - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson apologised and announced an internal probe Wednesday after a video emerged of senior aides joking about a Christmas party at Downing Street last year when social events were banned under Covid-19 rules. (Photo by JESSICA TAYLOR / various sources / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - NO USE FOR ENTERTAINMENT, SATIRICAL, ADVERTISING PURPOSES - MANDATORY CREDIT

The present inquiry into Mr Johnson looks to determine whether the former prime minister misled parliament (Picture: AFP)

Editorial use only Mandatory Credit: Photo by Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock (12911426d) Harriet Harman 'Good Morning Britain' TV show, London, UK - 26 Apr 2022
The probe is being headed up by Labour MP Harriet Harman (Picture: Shutterstock)

They said: ‘The Committee will want to hear from Mr Johnson why, instead of correcting the record at the earliest opportunity, he declined to answer questions that were within his direct knowledge.’

Earlier in February, the inquiry was reported to be zeroing in on an Abba-themed party, held just hours after Dominic Cummings and Lee Cain, Downing Street’s former chief adviser and director of communications respectively, left Mr Johnson’s team following a power struggle with Mr Johnson’s then-partner and now-wife, Carrie Symonds.

EDITORS NOTE IMAGE REDACTED AT SOURCE BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE Handout photo dated 14/01/21 issued by the House of Commons showing the then prime minister Boris Johnson (left) at a leaving gathering for two officials, involving 15-20 people, in 10 Downing Street, London, when rules were in force for the prevention of the spread of Covid, which was released in the Committee of Privileges report. Mr Johnson will give evidence to the Privileges Committee in the week beginning March 20 on the inquiry into whether he lied to Parliament, the committee said. Issue date: Friday March 3, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story POLITICS Johnson. Photo credit should read: Cabinet Office/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.

Images released in the time leading up to and after Mr Johnson’s resignation as prime minister appear to show him attending a variety of events at Downing Street at which alcohol and food were provided (Picture: PA)

EDITORS NOTE IMAGE REDACTED AT SOURCE BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE Handout photo dated 19/06/20 issued by the House of Commons showing the then prime minister Boris Johnson (right) at a gathering celebrating his birthday - in which cake and alcohol was provided - in the Cabinet Room at 10 Downing Street, London, when rules were in force for the prevention of the spread of Covid, which was released in the Committee of Privileges report. Mr Johnson will give evidence to the Privileges Committee in the week beginning March 20 on the inquiry into whether he lied to Parliament, the committee said. Issue date: Friday March 3, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story POLITICS Johnson. Photo credit should read: Cabinet Office/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
Mr Johnson has consistently denied any allegations of improper conduct, stating: ‘Whatever happened, the guidance was followed and the rules were followed at all times’ (Picture: PA)

EDITORS NOTE IMAGE REDACTED AT SOURCE BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE Handout photo dated 19/06/20 issued by the House of Commons showing the then prime minister Boris Johnson (right) at a gathering celebrating his birthday - in which cake and alcohol was provided - in the Cabinet Room at 10 Downing Street, London, when rules were in force for the prevention of the spread of Covid, which was released in the Committee of Privileges report. Mr Johnson will give evidence to the Privileges Committee in the week beginning March 20 on the inquiry into whether he lied to Parliament, the committee said. Issue date: Friday March 3, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story POLITICS Johnson. Photo credit should read: Cabinet Office/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
Mr Johnson was himself among a number of Downing Street officials to receive fines for attending the events (Picture: PA)

EDITORS NOTE IMAGE REDACTED AT SOURCE BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE Handout photo dated 13/11/20 issued by the House of Commons showing the then prime minister Boris Johnson (right) at a leaving gathering in the vestibule of the Press Office of 10 Downing Street, London, when rules were in force for the prevention of the spread of Covid, which was released in the Committee of Privileges report. Mr Johnson will give evidence to the Privileges Committee in the week beginning March 20 on the inquiry into whether he lied to Parliament, the committee said. Issue date: Friday March 3, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story POLITICS Johnson. Photo credit should read: Cabinet Office/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
One of the events being scrutinised by the parliamentary Privileges Committee is said to have been so loud it could be heard several floors below (Picture: PA)

EDITORS NOTE IMAGE REDACTED AT SOURCE BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE Handout photo dated 13/11/20 issued by the House of Commons showing the then prime minister Boris Johnson (right) at a leaving gathering in the vestibule of the Press Office of 10 Downing Street, London, when rules were in force for the prevention of the spread of Covid, which was released in the Committee of Privileges report. Mr Johnson will give evidence to the Privileges Committee in the week beginning March 20 on the inquiry into whether he lied to Parliament, the committee said. Issue date: Friday March 3, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story POLITICS Johnson. Photo credit should read: Cabinet Office/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
Mr Johnson’s supporters have since claimed that a previous inquiry into the gatherings by senior civil servant Sue Gray was politically biased, pointing to her being the recent recipient of a job offer from the Labour party as evidence of this (Picture: PA)

Mr Johnson has consistently denied having knowingly misled parliament as to Downing Street parties that contravened his own government’s rules and guidance during his premiership.

Prior to the parliamentary committee’s inquiry, the allegations against the former prime minister had already been the subject of two other investigations: one by the Metropolitan Police, and another by senior civil servant Sue Gray.

Earlier this week, it emerged that Ms Gray has been offered the position of chief of staff by Labour party leader Sir Keir Starmer. 

Allies of Mr Johnson have described the job offer as evidence that the allegations against him were part of a ‘deliberate and manufactured plot to oust a Brexit-backing conservative prime minister.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Stay connected with us on social media platform for instant update click here to join our  Twitter, & Facebook

We are now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@TechiUpdate) and stay updated with the latest Technology headlines.

For all the latest Covid-19 News Click Here 

Read original article here

Denial of responsibility! Rapidtelecast.com is an automatic aggregator around the global media. All the content are available free on Internet. We have just arranged it in one platform for educational purpose only. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, all materials to their authors. If you are the owner of the content and do not want us to publish your materials on our website, please contact us by email – [email protected]. The content will be deleted within 24 hours.
Medicc Saves
Leave a comment