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| MPs share evidence ahead of Boris Johnson TV grilling | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A bundle of evidence including photos and statements has been released by the MPs investigating Boris Johnson over Partygate, ahead of a hearing crucial to his political future. | |
| Included is evidence from the UK's top civil servant saying he did not give the former PM assurances about whether Covid rules were followed in No 10. | |
| Mr Johnson has admitted he did mislead MPs over Partygate but not on purpose. | |
| He says Wednesday's televised hearing will vindicate him. | |
| The former PM, who was ousted from office last year after a string of scandals, faces being potentially suspended if MPs decide he deliberately misled them. | The former PM, who was ousted from office last year after a string of scandals, faces being potentially suspended if MPs decide he deliberately misled them. |
| Johnson Partygate inquiry: The key clashes to expect | Johnson Partygate inquiry: The key clashes to expect |
| Mason: 'Box set Boris' is political theatre | Mason: 'Box set Boris' is political theatre |
| What could happen to Boris Johnson? | What could happen to Boris Johnson? |
| I misled MPs but not intentionally, says Johnson | I misled MPs but not intentionally, says Johnson |
| The seven-member Commons privileges committee is investigating whether what Mr Johnson told Parliament stopped it from properly holding him to account. | The seven-member Commons privileges committee is investigating whether what Mr Johnson told Parliament stopped it from properly holding him to account. |
| Before the hearing, the committee has published what it calls a "core bundle" of evidence that is expected to be referred to during the hearing. | Before the hearing, the committee has published what it calls a "core bundle" of evidence that is expected to be referred to during the hearing. |
| A written submission from Simon Case, the most senior civil servant in the UK, is part of the 110-page bundle of documents published on the committee's website. | |
| It is a Q&A form, dated 6 February 2023, which asks Mr Case whether he gave Mr Johnson any assurance that "Covid rules were followed at all times in No 10 and specifically in relation to gatherings covered in the Sur Gray report". | |
| In his response, Mr Case answers: "No." | |
| Evidence from other Number 10 officials, as well as emails, messages and details of Mr Johnson's diary have been published, alongside extracts of official advice for the public at the time of the pandemic. | |
| All the evidence amassed by the committee, including written statements from 23 witnesses, official diaries, and emails between officials, has already been handed over to Mr Johnson's legal team. | All the evidence amassed by the committee, including written statements from 23 witnesses, official diaries, and emails between officials, has already been handed over to Mr Johnson's legal team. |
| His lawyers have given the committee 46 WhatsApp messages between the former prime minister and five unnamed people. | His lawyers have given the committee 46 WhatsApp messages between the former prime minister and five unnamed people. |
| At 14.00 GMT on Wednesday, the committee will get its chance to question Mr Johnson live on TV, in a hearing that could last several hours. | |
| He is expected to be flanked by members of his taxpayer-funded legal team, with whom he will be able to confer during the session. Mr Johnson also hopes to have some of his supporters in the room. | He is expected to be flanked by members of his taxpayer-funded legal team, with whom he will be able to confer during the session. Mr Johnson also hopes to have some of his supporters in the room. |
| However, he will have to answer questions himself, and will take an oath on the King James bible before the hearing begins. | However, he will have to answer questions himself, and will take an oath on the King James bible before the hearing begins. |
| Watch: Johnson's comments in the Commons on Partygate scandal | Watch: Johnson's comments in the Commons on Partygate scandal |
| Watch: Johnson's comments in the Commons on Partygate scandal | Watch: Johnson's comments in the Commons on Partygate scandal |
| Media stories about staff parties in Downing Street when Covid rules banned socialising indoors began to emerge in late 2021, later becoming known as the Partygate scandal. | Media stories about staff parties in Downing Street when Covid rules banned socialising indoors began to emerge in late 2021, later becoming known as the Partygate scandal. |
| On several occasions afterwards, Mr Johnson told the House of Commons that Covid rules had been followed in Downing Street. | On several occasions afterwards, Mr Johnson told the House of Commons that Covid rules had been followed in Downing Street. |
| But an inquiry by senior official Sue Gray later found rule-breaking had taken place at multiple events, and police issued fines to 83 people, including Mr Johnson himself, for breaching Covid laws. | But an inquiry by senior official Sue Gray later found rule-breaking had taken place at multiple events, and police issued fines to 83 people, including Mr Johnson himself, for breaching Covid laws. |
| The committee, chaired by veteran Labour MP Harriet Harman, but with a Conservative majority, said earlier this month that breaches of pandemic guidance would have been "obvious" to him at the time. | The committee, chaired by veteran Labour MP Harriet Harman, but with a Conservative majority, said earlier this month that breaches of pandemic guidance would have been "obvious" to him at the time. |
| However that was rejected by Mr Johnson on Tuesday, in a 52-page document setting out his defence ahead of the TV hearing. | However that was rejected by Mr Johnson on Tuesday, in a 52-page document setting out his defence ahead of the TV hearing. |
| Birthday gathering | Birthday gathering |
| In the submission, he said his assurances to MPs that lockdown rules had been followed were made in "good faith". | In the submission, he said his assurances to MPs that lockdown rules had been followed were made in "good faith". |
| He had not "intentionally or recklessly" misled MPs, he added, and would "never have dreamed of doing so". | He had not "intentionally or recklessly" misled MPs, he added, and would "never have dreamed of doing so". |
| He said he had not considered at the time that events he attended himself, including a June 2020 birthday gathering in No 10 for which he was fined, had been in breach of the rules. | He said he had not considered at the time that events he attended himself, including a June 2020 birthday gathering in No 10 for which he was fined, had been in breach of the rules. |
| For other events he had not attended, he said he had not been told by his officials that they broke the rules - and it was reasonable of him to trust their account. | For other events he had not attended, he said he had not been told by his officials that they broke the rules - and it was reasonable of him to trust their account. |
| He also took aim at the committee itself, accusing it of departing from the precedents set by previous inquiries. | He also took aim at the committee itself, accusing it of departing from the precedents set by previous inquiries. |
| Boris Johnson was fined for attending a birthday gathering in the Cabinet Room in 2020 | Boris Johnson was fined for attending a birthday gathering in the Cabinet Room in 2020 |
| The committee has decided that whether he intended to mislead MPs is not relevant in deciding whether he stopped Parliament from doing its job, known as a "contempt". | The committee has decided that whether he intended to mislead MPs is not relevant in deciding whether he stopped Parliament from doing its job, known as a "contempt". |
| But if they decide a contempt was committed, his intentions will be considered when deciding any punishment they recommend. | But if they decide a contempt was committed, his intentions will be considered when deciding any punishment they recommend. |
| A finding that he deliberately misled MPs is likely to attract the strongest sanction. Another option is they conclude he misled Parliament "recklessly". | A finding that he deliberately misled MPs is likely to attract the strongest sanction. Another option is they conclude he misled Parliament "recklessly". |
| In his submission, the former prime minister hit out at this reasoning, saying the idea of misleading MPs recklessly was an "entirely novel concept". | In his submission, the former prime minister hit out at this reasoning, saying the idea of misleading MPs recklessly was an "entirely novel concept". |
| The full House of Commons will have to approve the committee's final recommendations, as well as any sanctions, which range from ordering him to apologise to suspending him from the Commons. | The full House of Commons will have to approve the committee's final recommendations, as well as any sanctions, which range from ordering him to apologise to suspending him from the Commons. |
| Conservative MPs will be given a free vote, meaning they will not be told how to vote by party managers. | Conservative MPs will be given a free vote, meaning they will not be told how to vote by party managers. |
| If he is suspended for more than 10 days, this could trigger a by-election in his constituency - although suspensions of this length have been rare in the past. | If he is suspended for more than 10 days, this could trigger a by-election in his constituency - although suspensions of this length have been rare in the past. |
| Paul Goodman, editor of Conservative Home, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that polling of about 650 Tory voters by his website suggested members did not like the inquiry process but only a fifth wanted to see him return as leader before the next election. | Paul Goodman, editor of Conservative Home, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that polling of about 650 Tory voters by his website suggested members did not like the inquiry process but only a fifth wanted to see him return as leader before the next election. |
| "Is there a sense with Boris Johnson that the dogs are barking and the caravan is beginning to move on?" he said. | "Is there a sense with Boris Johnson that the dogs are barking and the caravan is beginning to move on?" he said. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| House of Commons | House of Commons |
| Coronavirus lockdown measures | Coronavirus lockdown measures |
| Boris Johnson | Boris Johnson |