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| Did Boris Johnson mislead Parliament over parties? | Did Boris Johnson mislead Parliament over parties? |
| (about 2 months 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 deliberately 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 deliberately 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 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. |
| Senior civil servant Sue Gray does not use the word when detailing the events of 13 November. Instead, her report mentions: | Senior civil servant Sue Gray 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 even show the 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 even show the 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 the prime minister 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 the prime minister 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 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 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. |
| The prime minister 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. | The prime minister 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 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. |
| Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak reject calls to resign over lockdown fines | Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak reject calls to resign over lockdown fines |
| 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 the prime minister attended leaving drinks on: | We know from the Sue Gray report that the prime minister 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. |
| 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. |
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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? | |
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| Read more from Reality Check | Read more from Reality Check |