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| Did Boris Johnson mislead Parliament over parties? | Did Boris Johnson mislead Parliament over parties? |
| (21 days later) | |
| There is "evidence that the House of Commons may have been misled" by Boris Johnson when he was prime minister, a committee of MPs has said. | |
| The Privileges Committee has released an initial report as part of its investigation into whether Mr Johnson misled MPs when talking about parties at Downing Street during lockdown. | |
| Mr Johnson, who has already been fined by police for breaking his own Covid rules, is due to give evidence to the MPs in the week of 20 March. | |
| He could face suspension from the House of Commons or even lose his seat if the committee finds he was in contempt of Parliament. He resigned as prime minister on 7 July 2022 and stepped down on 6 September. | |
| Five key findings from Boris Johnson inquiry update | |
| Johnson may have misled Parliament over parties, say MPs | |
| Boris Johnson may face by-election if found to have misled MPs | Boris Johnson may face by-election if found to have misled MPs |
| What has the committee said? | |
| The committee said "the evidence strongly suggests" that it should have been obvious to Mr Johnson that guidance was being breached "at the time he was at the gatherings". | |
| It has focused on both what he said to Parliament and whether he misled it by not making certain statements. | |
| "We note that Mr Johnson had personal knowledge about gatherings which he could have disclosed," the report said. | |
| It also highlighted that Mr Johnson had said he could not answer MPs' questions until Sue Gray's Report into the gatherings had been completed. "While repeatedly making that statement to the House he appears to have had personal knowledge that he did not reveal," the MPs said. | |
| The report also looked at the advice Mr Johnson had received from his staff, and included some WhatsApp messages from advisers who were struggling to find a way that the gatherings were within the rules. | |
| The Downing Street director of communications responded to a suggestion that they describe a gathering as being reasonably necessary for work purposes by saying: "Not sure that one works does it. Also blows another great gaping hole in the PM's account doesn't it?" | |
| In a statement, Mr Johnson said: "It is clear from this report that I have not committed any contempt of Parliament." | |
| "That is because there is no evidence in the report that I knowingly or recklessly misled Parliament, or that I failed to update Parliament in a timely manner." | |
| These are the key times Boris Johnson talked in Parliament about Downing Street parties when he was prime minister. | |
| Date of quote: 8 December 2021 | Date 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." |
| Let's break down his answer. | Let's break down his answer. |
| Party | Party |
| The first part is the apparent denial that there was a party on 13 November 2020. | The first part is the apparent denial that there was a party on 13 November 2020. |
| 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. |
| Sue Gray, the civil servant who investigated Downing Street parties and gatherings, does not use the word when detailing the events of 13 November. Instead, her report mentions: | Sue Gray, the civil servant who investigated Downing Street parties and gatherings, does not use the word when detailing the events of 13 November. Instead, her report mentions: |
| a gathering, with food and alcohol, in the press office area to mark the departure of director of communications Lee Cain, where Mr Johnson gave a leaving speech | a gathering, with food and alcohol, in the press office area to mark the departure of director of communications Lee Cain, where Mr Johnson gave a leaving speech |
| a gathering, with food and alcohol, in Mr Johnson's No 10 flat attended by five special advisers and the prime minister. | a gathering, with food and alcohol, in Mr Johnson's No 10 flat attended by five special advisers and the prime minister. |
| The photos of the former show the then prime minister raising a glass in front of several people and a table with a number of wine bottles, as well as takeaway food. | The photos of the former show the then prime minister raising a glass in front of several people and a table with a number of wine bottles, as well as takeaway food. |
| Rules | Rules |
| Mr Johnson said the rules were followed "at all times". | Mr Johnson said the rules were followed "at all times". |
| But we now know they were not. The Metropolitan Police investigation into gatherings at Downing Street led to a total of 126 fines being issued to 83 individuals for breaking Covid rules. | But we now know they were not. The Metropolitan Police investigation into gatherings at Downing Street led to a total of 126 fines being issued to 83 individuals for breaking Covid rules. |
| On the specific date he was being asked about, we know the Met issued fines - for breaches of the rules on indoor gatherings of two or more people. | On the specific date he was being asked about, we know the Met issued fines - for breaches of the rules on indoor gatherings of two or more people. |
| The Met has not specified which event, but the BBC has been told that at least one person who attended the leaving drinks that Mr Johnson was pictured at was fined. The then prime minister did not receive a fine - the Met has not explained why. | The Met has not specified which event, but the BBC has been told that at least one person who attended the leaving drinks that Mr Johnson was pictured at was fined. The then prime minister did not receive a fine - the Met has not explained why. |
| Guidance | Guidance |
| Mr Johnson said the guidance was followed "at all times". | Mr Johnson said the guidance was followed "at all times". |
| The guidance for working in offices at the time said "only absolutely necessary participants should physically attend meetings" and they should maintain social distancing. | The guidance for working in offices at the time said "only absolutely necessary participants should physically attend meetings" and they should maintain social distancing. |
| He told Parliament on 23 June that: "Where it is possible to keep 2m apart, people should. But where it is not, we will advise people to keep a social distance of 1m-plus." That guidance was still current by 13 November. | He told Parliament on 23 June that: "Where it is possible to keep 2m apart, people should. But where it is not, we will advise people to keep a social distance of 1m-plus." That guidance was still current by 13 November. |
| There was nothing in that guidance document that implied that leaving drinks or other forms of socialising at work were allowed. | There was nothing in that guidance document that implied that leaving drinks or other forms of socialising at work were allowed. |
| But the photos in the Sue Gray report clearly show Mr Johnson drinking in front of staff members - who are standing very close to each other - with bottles of wine on a table. | But the photos in the Sue Gray report clearly show Mr Johnson drinking in front of staff members - who are standing very close to each other - with bottles of wine on a table. |
| The Privileges Committee initial report said: "We will consider why Mr Johnson told the House that no rules or guidance had been broken in No. 10 when he knew what the rules and guidance were and was in attendance at gatherings where the rules and guidance were breached." | |
| The other gathering on 13 November was in Mr Johnson's flat. | The other gathering on 13 November was in Mr Johnson's flat. |
| The report says there was a meeting that evening "to discuss the handling" of the departures of Mr Cain and special adviser Dominic Cummings. | The report says there was a meeting that evening "to discuss the handling" of the departures of Mr Cain and special adviser Dominic Cummings. |
| Five special advisers were present, along with food and alcohol. Mr Johnson joined at 20:00 and the "discussion carried on later into the evening". | Five special advisers were present, along with food and alcohol. Mr Johnson joined at 20:00 and the "discussion carried on later into the evening". |
| Previously, several newspapers reported that Abba songs could be heard playing in the No 10 flat that evening. | Previously, several newspapers reported that Abba songs could be heard playing in the No 10 flat that evening. |
| Date of quote: 25 May 2022 | Date of quote: 25 May 2022 |
| Context: The prime minister's response in Parliament to the final publication of the Sue Gray report. | Context: The prime minister's response in Parliament to the final publication of the Sue Gray report. |
| What Johnson said: "I am happy to set on the record now that when I said - I came to this house and said in all sincerity that the rules and guidance had been followed at all times - it was what I believed to be true. It was certainly the case when I was present at gatherings to wish staff farewell." | What Johnson said: "I am happy to set on the record now that when I said - I came to this house and said in all sincerity that the rules and guidance had been followed at all times - it was what I believed to be true. It was certainly the case when I was present at gatherings to wish staff farewell." |
| We know from the Sue Gray report that he attended leaving drinks on: | We know from the Sue Gray report that he attended leaving drinks on: |
| 13 November 2020 - he stayed for around 30 minutes and made a speech for Lee Cain | 13 November 2020 - he stayed for around 30 minutes and made a speech for Lee Cain |
| 27 November 2020 - he stayed for a "short time" and made a speech for a departing adviser | 27 November 2020 - he stayed for a "short time" and made a speech for a departing adviser |
| 14 January 2021 - he stayed for a "short time" and made a speech for two No 10 officials | 14 January 2021 - he stayed for a "short time" and made a speech for two No 10 officials |
| Mr Johnson says both rules and guidance were "certainly" followed when he was present at these gatherings. | Mr Johnson says both rules and guidance were "certainly" followed when he was present at these gatherings. |
| We know that two of them (13 November and 14 January) led to police fines but we can't tell whether these rule breaches happened when he was there. | We know that two of them (13 November and 14 January) led to police fines but we can't tell whether these rule breaches happened when he was there. |
| When it comes to the guidance, the photos of the Lee Cain event apparently show people closer than 1m together, and thus not following the guidance, while Mr Johnson was in the room and looking on. | When it comes to the guidance, the photos of the Lee Cain event apparently show people closer than 1m together, and thus not following the guidance, while Mr Johnson was in the room and looking on. |
| The initial report from the Privileges Committee said it had received evidence that Mr Johnson had said at the 27 November 2020 event that it was "probably the most unsocially distanced gathering in the UK right now". | |
| Date of quote: 8 December 2021 | Date 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." |
| The party they were talking about is understood to be the one on 18 December 2020, when between 20 and 45 individuals gathered for a "Wine & Cheese Evening" and "Secret Santa". | The party they were talking about is understood to be the one on 18 December 2020, when between 20 and 45 individuals gathered for a "Wine & Cheese Evening" and "Secret Santa". |
| There is no mention, in the Sue Gray report, of Boris Johnson being present or having been notified about it. | There is no mention, in the Sue Gray report, of Boris Johnson being present or having been notified about it. |
| Mr Johnson's claim, on 8 December 2021, revolves around what assurances he was given, which we do not know. | Mr Johnson's claim, on 8 December 2021, revolves around what assurances he was given, which we do not know. |
| If he was told there was no party - he could argue he had not knowingly misled the House. | If he was told there was no party - he could argue he had not knowingly misled the House. |
| The Privileges Committee says there is evidence that he was only told that rules had not been broken by two individuals, and they were referring to just a single gathering and not to No 10's compliance with the rules in general. | |
| What legal arguments have there been? | |
| There has been discussion about whether the committee needs to be convinced that he deliberately misled MPs to rule that he was in contempt. | |
| In July, the Privileges Committee said its legal advice was that the prime minister's intent was not relevant to this judgement, although it could affect any penalties imposed. | |
| Senior lawyer Lord Pannick was asked to look into this by Mr Johnson. He described the committee's approach as "fundamentally flawed". It rejected his criticism. | |
| Partygate probe is unfair, says lawyer advising PM | |
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| Watch: What has Boris Johnson said before about alleged No 10 parties? | Watch: What has Boris Johnson said before about alleged No 10 parties? |
| Watch: What has Boris Johnson said before about alleged No 10 parties? | Watch: What has Boris Johnson said before about alleged No 10 parties? |
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