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What did Boris Johnson tell Parliament about parties? What did Boris Johnson tell Parliament about parties?
(about 1 month later)
On 19 April, Boris Johnson was asked in Parliament: "Did you deliberately mislead the House at the dispatch box?" His one-word reply: "No."On 19 April, Boris Johnson was asked in Parliament: "Did you deliberately mislead the House at the dispatch box?" His one-word reply: "No."
After being fined by the Metropolitan Police for breaking his own Covid rules, he will be investigated by a Commons committee over whether he misled MPs when talking about parties in Downing Street.After being fined by the Metropolitan Police for breaking his own Covid rules, he will be investigated by a Commons committee over whether he misled MPs when talking about parties in Downing Street.
It is important because the Ministerial Code, the rule book for government ministers, says: "Ministers who knowingly mislead Parliament will be expected to offer their resignation."It is important because the Ministerial Code, the rule book for government ministers, says: "Ministers who knowingly mislead Parliament will be expected to offer their resignation."
"Knowingly" suggests deliberately misleading MPs, which can be difficult to prove."Knowingly" suggests deliberately misleading MPs, which can be difficult to prove.
These are the key times the prime minister has talked in Parliament about Downing Street parties and gatherings.These are the key times the prime minister has talked in Parliament about Downing Street parties and gatherings.
Date of quote: 8 December 2021Date of quote: 8 December 2021
Context: Labour MP Catherine West asked: "Will the prime minister tell the House whether there was a party in Downing Street on 13 November [2020]?"Context: Labour MP Catherine West asked: "Will the prime minister tell the House whether there was a party in Downing Street on 13 November [2020]?"
What Mr Johnson said: "No - but I am sure that whatever happened, the guidance was followed and the rules were followed at all times."What Mr Johnson said: "No - but I am sure that whatever happened, the guidance was followed and the rules were followed at all times."
AnalysisAnalysis
Let's break down his answer. The first part is the apparent denial that there was a party on 13 November 2020.Let's break down his answer. The first part is the apparent denial that there was a party on 13 November 2020.
We know that there were two gatherings that may have broken the law in Downing Street on 13 November because they were mentioned in senior civil servant Sue Gray's initial report. The Metropolitan Police has confirmed that fines have been issued for an event on that date that breached the restrictions on indoor gatherings of two or more people.
She cited: There were two gatherings at Downing Street that day that the Met was investigating and we do not know which of them ended up with fines being issued.
The two gatherings, which were mentioned in senior civil servant Sue Gray's initial report, were:
a gathering in the Downing Street flata gathering in the Downing Street flat
a gathering in Downing Street on the departure of a special advisera gathering in Downing Street on the departure of a special adviser
Those gatherings have been investigated by the Metropolitan Police. We know from Ms Gray's terms of reference that matters were to be referred to the police when "evidence emerges of behaviour that is potentially a criminal offence".
Ms West's question specified "party" and that is not a term for which there is a precise definition.Ms West's question specified "party" and that is not a term for which there is a precise definition.
Moving on to the rest of his answer, Mr Johnson said that the guidance and the rules were followed at all times.Moving on to the rest of his answer, Mr Johnson said that the guidance and the rules were followed at all times.
Starting with the rules - the law at the time said "no person may participate in a gathering which consists of two or more people and takes place indoors" and had an exception where "the gathering is reasonably necessary for work purposes". Starting with the rules - we now know from the Met that the rules were not followed at Downing Street at all times that day.
The Sunday Times reported that one event had been a leaving party for Lee Cain, that Mr Johnson had poured drinks and had "instigated" it, something Downing Street denied.
The prime minister has called other alleged parties "work events". But the other gathering from 13 November took place in the flat where the prime minister lives with his wife - people from outside their household should not have been there, with certain exceptions.
Staff in the rest of the building reportedly heard ABBA songs being played loudly.
We do not know whether Mr Johnson was in the flat at the time - but the Daily Telegraph reports he was seen heading up there on the night of the event. Downing Street said it could not comment on this.
The guidance for workplaces at the time said "only absolutely necessary participants should physically attend meetings".The guidance for workplaces at the time said "only absolutely necessary participants should physically attend meetings".
There was nothing in the guidance that implied leaving drinks or other forms of socialising at work were allowed.There was nothing in the guidance that implied leaving drinks or other forms of socialising at work were allowed.
The remaining question is whether Mr Johnson knew that the rules and guidelines were being breached at Downing Street that day.
The Sunday Times reported that one event had been a leaving party for Lee Cain, that Mr Johnson had poured drinks and had "instigated" it, something Downing Street denied.
The other gathering was in his flat. We do not know whether Mr Johnson was in the flat at the time - but the Daily Telegraph reports he was seen heading up there on the night of the event. Downing Street said it could not comment on this.
The full Sue Gray report may help answer whether the prime minister would have known that the rules were being broken.
Downing Street parties: What Covid rules were broken?Downing Street parties: What Covid rules were broken?
Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak reject calls to resign over lockdown finesBoris Johnson and Rishi Sunak reject calls to resign over lockdown fines
Partygate fines: Boris Johnson set to apologise to MPs over lockdown breach
Date of quote: 8 December 2021Date of quote: 8 December 2021
Context: Opening remarks to Parliament after a video emerged of members of his staff joking about whether there had been a Christmas party at Downing Street.Context: Opening remarks to Parliament after a video emerged of members of his staff joking about whether there had been a Christmas party at Downing Street.
What Johnson said: "I have been repeatedly assured since these allegations emerged that there was no party and that no Covid rules were broken."What Johnson said: "I have been repeatedly assured since these allegations emerged that there was no party and that no Covid rules were broken."
AnalysisAnalysis
The party they were talking about is understood to be the one on 18 December 2020, described in Ms Gray's initial report as "a gathering in No 10 Downing Street ahead of the Christmas break".The party they were talking about is understood to be the one on 18 December 2020, described in Ms Gray's initial report as "a gathering in No 10 Downing Street ahead of the Christmas break".
A source who attended the gathering told BBC News "several dozen" people had enjoyed food, drink and party games and it had gone on past midnight.A source who attended the gathering told BBC News "several dozen" people had enjoyed food, drink and party games and it had gone on past midnight.
This claim revolves around what assurances the prime minister was given, which we do not know. The Met has issued fines to people who attended this gathering. If people assured Mr Johnson that no Covid rules were broken then they were wrong.
We do know that the gathering has been investigated by the Metropolitan Police but we do not yet know whether any fines have been issued for it. But this claim revolves around what assurances the prime minister was given, which we do not know.
And we do not know whether Mr Johnson attended the gathering - if he is fined for attending it, he will have some explaining to do. And we do not know whether Mr Johnson attended the gathering.
If he was not there - and was told there was no party - he could argue he had not knowingly misled the House.If he was not there - and was told there was no party - he could argue he had not knowingly misled the House.
Date of quote: 1 December 2021Date of quote: 1 December 2021
Context: Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer asked: "As millions of people were locked down last year, was a Christmas party thrown in Downing Street for dozens of people on 18 December [2020]?"Context: Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer asked: "As millions of people were locked down last year, was a Christmas party thrown in Downing Street for dozens of people on 18 December [2020]?"
What Johnson said: "What I can tell the right honourable and learned gentleman is that all guidance was followed completely in No 10."What Johnson said: "What I can tell the right honourable and learned gentleman is that all guidance was followed completely in No 10."
AnalysisAnalysis
The question was about the same "gathering... ahead of the Christmas break".The question was about the same "gathering... ahead of the Christmas break".
But Mr Johnson's reply sounds as if he is saying all guidance was followed at all times, not just on 18 December.But Mr Johnson's reply sounds as if he is saying all guidance was followed at all times, not just on 18 December.
If he had been talking about the whole of the pandemic, then the statement would have been misleading. Guidance was clearly not followed in Downing Street at times and the Metropolitan Police has also reached the conclusion that the law was broken - already issuing more than 50 fines. If he had been talking about the whole of the pandemic, then the statement would have been misleading. Guidance was clearly not followed in Downing Street at times and the Metropolitan Police has also reached the conclusion that the law was broken - issuing a total of 126 fines.
On 14 April, Mr Johnson confirmed he had been fined for attending a birthday gathering in June 2020. If the prime minister was only talking about 18 December, we know that the law was broken that day because the Metropolitan Police has issued fines for breaches that day.
If the prime minister was only talking about 18 December, we will have to wait for the Metropolitan Police investigation and Sue Gray's final report to know if the law was broken. And the government guidance for the Christmas period in 2020 says: "Although there are exemptions for work purposes, you must not have a work Christmas lunch or party where that is a primarily social activity."
But the government guidance for the Christmas period in 2020 says: "Although there are exemptions for work purposes, you must not have a work Christmas lunch or party where that is a primarily social activity."
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Watch: What has the PM said before about alleged No 10 parties?Watch: What has the PM said before about alleged No 10 parties?
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