Boris Johnson May Have Misled Parliament Over Lockdown Parties, UK Lawmakers Say

Britain's then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson gives an update on the COVID-19 pandemic during a virtual press conference on the one year anniversary of Britain's first national lockdown inside 10 Downing Street in central London, on March 23, 2021. Hannah McKay/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson may have misled Parliament at least four times over the “partygate” scandal, a committee of MPs has said.

The Privileges Committee of the House of Commons is conducting an investigation to establish whether Johnson committed contempt of Parliament by telling the House on several occasions that no parties were held in Downing Street at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in violation of lockdown rules.

In its initial report published on Friday, the committee said: “The evidence strongly suggests that breaches of guidance would have been obvious to Mr. Johnson at the time he was at the gatherings.

“There is evidence that those who were advising Mr. Johnson about what to say to the press and in the House were themselves struggling to contend that some gatherings were within the rules.”

A group of police officers walk through Downing Street, in London, during a protest outside the gates on April 13, 2022. Stefan Rousseau/PA

The committee said Johnson failed to correct his statements, which later turned out to be inaccurate.

“It appears that Mr. Johnson did not correct the statements that he repeatedly made and did not use the well-established procedures of the House to correct something that is wrong at the earliest opportunity,” the report said.

The committee, which is chaired by Labour MP Harriet Harman but has a Conservative majority, also criticised the government’s “reluctance” to hand over evidence until Rishi Sunak took over as prime minister.

Johnson told the committee he has “no relevant material” after repeated requests for evidence and still “has not provided us with a written submission,” the MPs said.

The report makes clear that the publication is not the final conclusion and that Johnson is scheduled to give oral evidence broadcast live on television in the week starting March 20.

The law-breaking parties in Downing Street were among the scandals that forced Johnson’s resignation as Conservative Party leader and prime minister in July 2022.

If he is found to have lied to Parliament, he could be suspended from the House of Commons or even kicked out in a by-election after a recall petition.

‘Gaping Hole’

Evidence cited in the report included messages between No. 10’s then communications director Jack Doyle and an official discussing the birthday gathering held for Johnson in 2020, for which the ex-PM was fined by police.

Doyle wrote: “I’m struggling to come up with a way this one is in the rules in my head.”

In response to a suggestion that they describe the event as “reasonably necessary for work purposes,” he said: “Not sure that one works does it? Also blows another great gaping hole in the PM’s account doesn’t it?”

One No. 10 official in another exchange said a colleague was “worried about leaks of PM having a piss-up and to be fair I don’t think it’s unwarranted.”

Further evidence came in the form of new photos showing Johnson and colleagues drinking alcohol in close confines.

During strict post-Christmas lockdown rules, the then Conservative leader can be seen apparently mid-speech in front of four bottles of sparkling wine, as well as beers.

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner said the interim report is “damning” and she urged the Prime Minister to end Johnson’s taxpayer-funded legal defence.

“This partygate report is damning on Boris Johnson’s conduct, not just in the crime but the cover-up,” she said.

“Rishi Sunak must stop propping up this disgraced PM and his legal defence fund—and make clear that if he is found to have repeatedly misled Parliament, his career is over.”

‘Vindicated’

In a statement released moments after the report was published, Johnson said: “I believe that their labours have helped establish the obvious truth: It is clear from this report that I have not committed any contempt of Parliament. It is also clear that what I have been saying about this matter from the beginning has been vindicated.

“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.”

Johnson said he “relied upon advice from officials” so when he told MPs “that the rules and the guidance had been followed, that was my honest belief.”

He said it is “surreal” and “particularly concerning” to discover the committee was partially relying on findings from senior civil servant Sue Gray, who carried out the initial partygate investigation launched by Johnson himself.

Gray was asked to lead the probe after Cabinet Secretary Simon Case had to step down from the investigation after it was reported that a party had been held in his own office.

On Thursday, it emerged that Gray had quit the civil service and is set to become chief of staff to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, prompting claims from Tory MPs that she was politically biased.

Johnson said: “I leave it to others to decide how much confidence may now be placed in her inquiry and in the reports that she produced.”

But the Privileges Committee defended its inquiry as being “not based on the Sue Gray report” but on evidence including witnesses, WhatsApps, emails, and photographs from a Downing Street photographer.

PA Media contributed to this report.