Boris Johnson faces grilling by MPs over ‘Partygate’

Boris Johnson is back in the spotlight. But he didn’t like it for his reasons.

The former British prime minister faced a committee of MPs on Wednesday over whether he misled Parliament about his party breaking rules in government buildings at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a statement, a bullish Johnson said “the evidence clearly shows that I did not intentionally or unintentionally mislead Parliament.”

“The committee has produced not a little evidence to show that I have,” he said.

Expected for several hours, the hearing is a moment of danger for politicians whose career has been a roller-coaster of scandals and comebacks. If the House of Commons privileges committee concludes Johnson deliberately lied, he could be suspended or even lose his seat in Parliament.

Forced out

This could end any hope of a comeback for the 58-year-old politician, who led the Conservative Party to victory in 2019, but was forced out by his own party in July 2022 following scandals over money, ethics and punishment.

In an interim report this month, the committee – made up of Conservative and opposition MPs – said the evidence strongly suggested it would be “obvious” to Johnson that meetings in his Downing Street office in 2020 and 2021 breached the COVID-19 lockdown.

Johnson admitted on Tuesday that his repeated assurances to Parliament that the rules were in place at all times “were not correct.” But he said he had “unintentionally or unintentionally misled” MPs.

In a written evidence document, Johnson said it never occurred to him that the meeting – which included various cakes, wine, cheese and the exchange of “secret Santa” festive gifts – violated the ban on socializing imposed by the country’s own government. .

He said he “honestly believes” the five events he attended — including a send-off for staff and his own surprise birthday party — were “legitimate work gatherings.”

“No cake was eaten, no one even sang Good luck“, he said about the celebration of June 19, 2020.

Boozy party

Police ended up issuing 126 fines during late-night soirees, boozy parties and “Friday wine hours,” including one for Johnson, and the scandal helped derail his premiership.

The revelation of the meeting has sparked outrage among Britons who are following the rules imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus, unable to visit friends and family or even say goodbye to relatives dying in hospital.

Johnson said he was assured by “trusted advisers” that no rules had been broken – a false assurance. He said he was “deeply shocked” by the breaches of the rules found by police and senior civil servant Sue Gray, who led the investigation into “Partygate.”

Johnson and his supporters have also questioned Grey’s impartiality, given that he has now accepted a job as chief of staff to the opposition Labor leader.

If the committee finds Johnson in contempt, it can recommend punishments ranging from a verbal apology to suspension from Parliament, although any punishment must be approved by the entire House of Commons.

A delay of 10 days or more will allow constituents in the London suburbs of Uxbridge and South Ruislip to petition for a special election to replace Johnson as a member of Parliament.