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| Did Boris Johnson mislead Parliament over parties? | Did Boris Johnson mislead Parliament over parties? |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Boris Johnson is giving evidence on Wednesday 22 March to a committee of MPs investigating whether he misled Parliament over gatherings at Downing Street during the Covid lockdown. | |
| Mr Johnson, who was fined by police for breaking his own Covid rules, has submitted written evidence to the Privileges Committee. | |
| He has admitted misleading Parliament but denies doing this on purpose. | |
| The committee could recommend a range of sanctions, including suspension from the Commons, which could lead to a by-election in Mr Johnson's parliamentary constituency. | |
| Its investigation is focusing on statements he made to Parliament when he was prime minister. Here are some of the key ones: | Its investigation is focusing on statements he made to Parliament when he was prime minister. Here are some of the key ones: |
| 'No, but I am sure that whatever happened, the guidance was followed and the rules were followed at all times' - 8 December 2021 | 'No, but I am sure that whatever happened, the guidance was followed and the rules were followed at all times' - 8 December 2021 |
| Boris Johnson said this in response to a question from a Labour MP about whether he would tell MPs if there was a party in Downing Street on 13 November 2020. | Boris Johnson said this in response to a question from a Labour MP about whether he would tell MPs if there was a party in Downing Street on 13 November 2020. |
| The report by Sue Gray, the civil servant who investigated Downing Street gatherings, says on this date there was: | The report by Sue Gray, the civil servant who investigated Downing Street gatherings, says on this date there was: |
| 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 |
| 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. |
| Mr Johnson also said the guidance was followed "at all times". | Mr Johnson also 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. |
| Boris Johnson at a gathering on 13 November 2020 where he gave a leaving speech | Boris Johnson at a gathering on 13 November 2020 where he gave a leaving speech |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 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. |
| 'I have been repeatedly assured since these allegations emerged that there was no party and that no Covid rules were broken' - 8 December 2021 | 'I have been repeatedly assured since these allegations emerged that there was no party and that no Covid rules were broken' - 8 December 2021 |
| Boris Johnson made these 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 on 18 December 2020 - involving wine, cheese and a Secret Santa. | Boris Johnson made these 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 on 18 December 2020 - involving wine, cheese and a Secret Santa. |
| There is no mention, in the Gray report, of Boris Johnson being present or having been notified about it. | There is no mention, in the Gray report, of Boris Johnson being present or having been notified about it. |
| Mr Johnson's claim revolves around what assurances he was given, which we do not know. | Mr Johnson's claim 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. |
| Talking about the "repeated assurances", 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. | Talking about the "repeated assurances", 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. |
| The report looked at advice Mr Johnson received from his staff, and included some WhatsApp messages. | The report looked at advice Mr Johnson received from his staff, and included some WhatsApp messages. |
| 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?" | 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?" |
| 'It was what I believed to be true' - 25 May 2022 | 'It was what I believed to be true' - 25 May 2022 |
| Boris Johnson said this in Parliament in response to the publication of the Sue Gray report. | Boris Johnson said this in Parliament in response to the publication of the Sue Gray report. |
| "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", he said. | "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", he said. |
| We know from the report that he attended leaving drinks on: | We know from the 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". | 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". |
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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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| Read more from Reality Check | Read more from Reality Check |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Coronavirus lockdown measures | Coronavirus lockdown measures |
| Boris Johnson | Boris Johnson |
| UK Parliament | UK Parliament |
| Reality Check | Reality Check |
| Coronavirus pandemic | Coronavirus pandemic |