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Johnson Faces Inquiry Over Whether He Lied to U.K. Parliament Johnson Faces Inquiry Over Whether He Lied to U.K. Parliament
(about 1 hour later)
The “partygate” scandal that rocked Boris Johnson’s term as prime minister did not end when he left 10 Downing Street last summer. On Wednesday, fellow lawmakers opened a hearing that could see Mr. Johnson suspended — or even ejected — from Parliament as they investigate whether he lied to them about the lockdown-busting parties his staff held during the pandemic. Facing a hearing that could curtail his political career, Britain’s former prime minister Boris Johnson denied lying to Parliament on Wednesday in a defiant appearance before lawmakers investigating misleading statements he made about parties held in Downing Street.
The session, before the powerful privileges committee in the House of Commons, is the culmination of months of recrimination over the scandal, one of several that contributed to the downfall of Mr. Johnson, who was ousted as prime minister last year. The session, before the powerful privileges committee in the House of Commons, is the culmination of months of recrimination over the so-called “partygate” scandal, one of several that contributed to the downfall of Mr. Johnson, who was ousted as prime minister last year.
Opening his defense Mr. Johnson acknowledged that he had made misleading statements in Parliament and said he took full responsibility for what had happened in Downing Street. “That was wrong, I bitterly regret it,” Mr. Johnson said, while denying he had knowingly misled his fellow lawmakers. Opening his defense Mr. Johnson acknowledged that he had made misleading statements in Parliament and said he took full responsibility for gatherings at Downing Street that violated lockdown rules. “That was wrong, I bitterly regret it,” Mr. Johnson said.
But, despite being challenged over events he attended, Mr. Johnson denied he had knowingly misled his fellow lawmakers.
“I am here to say to you hand on heart that I did not lie to the House,” Mr. Johnson said. “When those statements were made, they were made in good faith on the basis of what I honestly knew and believed at the time.”“I am here to say to you hand on heart that I did not lie to the House,” Mr. Johnson said. “When those statements were made, they were made in good faith on the basis of what I honestly knew and believed at the time.”
Earlier Mr. Johnson swore an oath on the Bible and looked ahead, intently, as Harriet Harman, the senior lawmaker who is chairing the committee, read out her opening statement.Earlier Mr. Johnson swore an oath on the Bible and looked ahead, intently, as Harriet Harman, the senior lawmaker who is chairing the committee, read out her opening statement.
“We proceed on the basis that what we are told by ministers is accurate,” she said, adding that if lawmakers were not told the truth, “We cannot do our job.”“We proceed on the basis that what we are told by ministers is accurate,” she said, adding that if lawmakers were not told the truth, “We cannot do our job.”
Mr. Johnson also watched as video clips were played of several statements to Parliament that proved to be incorrect. Ms. Harman said that the committee’s job was to ascertain why this was so when he was present at gatherings where the rules were broken. Mr. Johnson also watched as video clips were played of several statements to Parliament that proved to be incorrect. Ms. Harman said that the committee’s job was to ascertain why he could have given these assurances in good faith when he was himself present at some gatherings where the rules were broken.
Mr. Johnson was facing accusations that he had misled Parliament when he gave assurances that all appropriate guidance was followed in Downing Street during the pandemic. In fact, there was a series of parties that defied social distancing rules, and Mr. Johnson was himself fined by police for one breach of the law. Mr. Johnson was facing accusations that he had deliberately or recklessly misled Parliament when he said that all appropriate guidance was followed in Downing Street during the pandemic. In fact, there was a series of parties that defied social distancing rules, and Mr. Johnson was himself fined by police for one breach of the law.
Lying to Parliament is a significant transgression and, were a suspension of 10 days or more to be proposed — and then approved by lawmakers — there could be a vote in Mr. Johnson’s own parliamentary constituency of Uxbridge on whether to keep him as a representative. Losing such a vote, and his seat in Parliament, would end Mr. Johnson’s prospects of a political comeback any time soon.Lying to Parliament is a significant transgression and, were a suspension of 10 days or more to be proposed — and then approved by lawmakers — there could be a vote in Mr. Johnson’s own parliamentary constituency of Uxbridge on whether to keep him as a representative. Losing such a vote, and his seat in Parliament, would end Mr. Johnson’s prospects of a political comeback any time soon.
In subsequent questioning, Mr. Johnson was challenged about an event at which he was photographed proposing a farewell toast to a departing member of staff. Mr. Johnson described the gathering as necessary for work reasons, and made reference to the relatively cramped interior of Downing Street, which he said made social distancing difficult. He added, tetchily,: “people who say that we were partying in lockdown simply do not know what they are talking about.”
However, the former prime minister struggled to justify why the event was permitted when going-away parties were not being held in other workplaces, and gave a vague reply when asked whether he would have told other employers that they could hold similar events. Such decisions would be up to the organizations concerned, he replied.
And Mr. Johnson was also asked about whether he had seen trestle tables set up for one event in the garden of Downing Street, and whether “multiple” bottles of alcohol were necessary for a work gathering.
Within his Conservative Party, Mr. Johnson has a loyal following and his supporters see him as a vote-winner who could deliver another election victory. Last fall, after the rapid resignation of his successor, Liz Truss, Mr. Johnson wavered over whether to try to win his old job back before deciding not to run.Within his Conservative Party, Mr. Johnson has a loyal following and his supporters see him as a vote-winner who could deliver another election victory. Last fall, after the rapid resignation of his successor, Liz Truss, Mr. Johnson wavered over whether to try to win his old job back before deciding not to run.
In evidence he presented to the committee in a dossier, Mr. Johnson admitted that he had misled lawmakers but argued that he did not so do “intentionally or recklessly.”In evidence he presented to the committee in a dossier, Mr. Johnson admitted that he had misled lawmakers but argued that he did not so do “intentionally or recklessly.”
A judgment of his intent could be critical because the privileges committee has said it is investigating whether Mr. Johnson’s statements to Parliament were “inadvertent, reckless, or intentional.” This may include examining “how quickly and comprehensively any misleading statement to the House was corrected.”A judgment of his intent could be critical because the privileges committee has said it is investigating whether Mr. Johnson’s statements to Parliament were “inadvertent, reckless, or intentional.” This may include examining “how quickly and comprehensively any misleading statement to the House was corrected.”
Sparked by articles in The Daily Mirror and subsequently in other British newspapers, the “partygate” scandal grew with a steady stream of disclosures. One involved a bring-your-own-booze cocktail party in May 2020 and another featured a party the night before the funeral of Prince Philip in April 2021, during which a swing set used by one of Mr. Johnson’s children was reportedly broken. Downing Street issued an apology to Queen Elizabeth II for that episode.Sparked by articles in The Daily Mirror and subsequently in other British newspapers, the “partygate” scandal grew with a steady stream of disclosures. One involved a bring-your-own-booze cocktail party in May 2020 and another featured a party the night before the funeral of Prince Philip in April 2021, during which a swing set used by one of Mr. Johnson’s children was reportedly broken. Downing Street issued an apology to Queen Elizabeth II for that episode.
A report into the affair compiled by a former senior civil servant, Sue Gray, included a photo of Mr. Johnson raising a glass at one of the gatherings.A report into the affair compiled by a former senior civil servant, Sue Gray, included a photo of Mr. Johnson raising a glass at one of the gatherings.
Mr. Johnson allies have criticized the privileges committee, and questioned the neutrality of Harriet Harman, who chaired Wednesday’s hearing, because of comments she had previously made about Mr. Johnson. They have also attacked the investigation by Ms. Gray, who has since left the civil service after being offered a job as a senior adviser to the leader of the opposition Labour Party, Keir Starmer.Mr. Johnson allies have criticized the privileges committee, and questioned the neutrality of Harriet Harman, who chaired Wednesday’s hearing, because of comments she had previously made about Mr. Johnson. They have also attacked the investigation by Ms. Gray, who has since left the civil service after being offered a job as a senior adviser to the leader of the opposition Labour Party, Keir Starmer.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has promised that lawmakers in the Conservative Party will not be instructed how to vote if the privileges committee recommends a suspension for the former prime minister.Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has promised that lawmakers in the Conservative Party will not be instructed how to vote if the privileges committee recommends a suspension for the former prime minister.
In recent weeks, Mr. Sunak has strengthened his leadership after a shaky start, agreeing with the European Union a new deal on post-Brexit trade rules and smoothing relations with President Emmanuel Macron of France. Mr. Johnson’s hearing is likely to remind viewers in Britain of some of the reasons that the former prime minister became a highly unpopular.In recent weeks, Mr. Sunak has strengthened his leadership after a shaky start, agreeing with the European Union a new deal on post-Brexit trade rules and smoothing relations with President Emmanuel Macron of France. Mr. Johnson’s hearing is likely to remind viewers in Britain of some of the reasons that the former prime minister became a highly unpopular.
Voters do not appear nostalgic about Mr. Johnson’s time in Downing Street, according to one recent opinion poll, which found that he had significantly worse ratings than either Mr. Starmer or Mr. Sunak, both in terms of competence and trustworthiness.Voters do not appear nostalgic about Mr. Johnson’s time in Downing Street, according to one recent opinion poll, which found that he had significantly worse ratings than either Mr. Starmer or Mr. Sunak, both in terms of competence and trustworthiness.
But some analysts have said that the hearing would be unhelpful to the Conservatives at a time when the party’s opinion poll ratings may be edging up somewhat, albeit still leaving it trailing well behind the Labour Party.But some analysts have said that the hearing would be unhelpful to the Conservatives at a time when the party’s opinion poll ratings may be edging up somewhat, albeit still leaving it trailing well behind the Labour Party.
Any recommendation to suspend Mr. Johnson would be likely to split Conservative lawmakers, creating a potentially damaging public display of division.Any recommendation to suspend Mr. Johnson would be likely to split Conservative lawmakers, creating a potentially damaging public display of division.
With the salience of the Brexit issue fading among the electorate, Mr. Johnson — the champion of Britain’s exit from the European Union — had become a less significant figure, said Robert Hayward, a Conservative member of the House of Lords and polling expert.
“The longer Rishi is there, the more people look at him,” said Mr. Hayward. But he added that although Mr. Johnson “is of diminishing importance, he still clouds the views of many voters.”