By Tony O’Reilly-
Evidence including photos and statements has been released by the MPs investigating Boris Johnson over Partygate, ahead of a hearing crucial to his political future.
Included is evidence from the UK’s top civil servant saying he did not give the former PM assurances about whether Covid rules were followed in No 10.
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Mr Johnson has admitted he did mislead MPs over Partygate but insists it was not deliberate The former PM, who was ousted from office last year after a string of scandals, faces being a potential suspension if MPs decide he deliberately misled them.
The seven-member Commons privileges committee is investigating whether what Mr Johnson told Parliament stopped it from properly holding him to account.
Among the new insights in the Privilege Committee’s “core bundle” of evidence is a No 10 official claiming that Mr Johnson “had the opportunity to shut down” lockdown gatherings in Downing Street but “allowed the culture to continue”.
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]Simon Case, Mr Johnson’s cabinet secretary, said he never told Mr Johnson Covid rules were followed. Jack Doyle, then-comms chief, said the same.
Dominic Cummings, who has long had an axe to grind against Boris Johnson, said it was “comical” Mr Johnson claimed to think a lockdown garden party was a work event. He said Mr Johnson “certainly knew it was a drinks party because I told him”
At 14.00 GMT on Wednesday, the committee will get its opportunity to question Mr Johnson live on TV, in a hearing that could last several hours.
He is expected to be flanked by members of his taxpayer-funded legal team, with whom he will be able to confer during the session.
He will take an oath on the King James Bible before the hearing begins.
The committee is expected to focus on statements Mr Johnson made about Downing Street gatherings on 1 December and 8 December 2021, and subsequently.
Before the hearing, the committee has published what it calls a “core bundle” of evidence that is expected to be referred to during the hearing.
A written submission from Simon Case, the most senior civil servant in the UK, is part of the 110-page bundle of documents published on the committee’s website.
It is a Q&A form, dated 6 February 2023, which asks Mr Case whether he gave Mr Johnson any assurance that “Covid rules were followed at all times in No 10 and specifically in relation to gatherings covered in the Sue Gray report”.
In his response, Mr Case answered: “No.”
Evidence submitted by Conservative MP Sarah Dines appears to contradict Mr Case’s answer.
In her written submission, Ms Dines said she recalled a meeting with Mr Johnson in the cabinet room, during which the former PM was advised Covid rules were followed “at all times”.
Ms Dines said she was “sure” civil servants were present and she was “90% sure one of them was Simon Case”.
Evidence from other Number 10 officials, as well as emails, messages and details of Mr Johnson’s diary have been published, alongside extracts of official advice for the public at the time of the pandemic.
In written evidence Martin Reynolds, the former principal private secretary to the then prime minister, questioned Mr Johnson’s plan to say Covid guidance had been followed at all times in Downing Street.
He said he queried a line proposed for Mr Johnson to say at Prime Minister’s Questions on 8 December.
Mr Reynolds said: “He did not welcome the interruption but told me that he had received reassurances that the comms event was within the rules.
“I accepted this but questioned whether it was realistic to argue that all guidance had been followed at all times, given the nature of the working environment in No 10.”
The committee also published exchanges about a drinks party in Downing Street’s garden in May 2020.
In written evidence, Lee Cain, who was then the No 10 communications director, said he raised concerns that the garden party would be a “communications risk”.
He said he and Mr Reynolds then discussed whether to go ahead with the event. Mr Cain said Mr Reynolds said he would speak to the prime minister but “he was sure it was okay”.
Mr Cain said Dominic Cummings, Mr Johnson’s chief adviser at the time, agreed the gathering “should not take place” and said he would “raise the issue with Martin and the prime minister”.
Mr Cain said Mr Cummings later confirmed that he had “informed the PM”, but they had argued about other issues and “he was clearly very frustrated”.
Another submission from a No 10 official said Mr Johnson often “saw and joined gatherings” in Downing Street. “He had the opportunity to shut them down, but joined in, made speeches, had a drink with staff,” the official wrote. “He could see what was happening and allowed the culture to continue.”
All the evidence amassed by the committee, including written statements from 23 witnesses, official diaries, and emails between officials, has already been handed over to Mr Johnson’s legal team.
His lawyers have given the committee 46 WhatsApp messages between the former prime minister and five unnamed people.
Media stories about staff parties in Downing Street when Covid rules banned socialising indoors began to emerge in late 2021, later becoming known as the Partygate scandal.
Mr Johnson told the House of Commons that Covid rules and guidance had been followed in Downing Street.
However, in his recent submission arguing his case, the former prime minister insisted that guidelines are not legally binding- which is true.
An inquiry by senior official Sue Gray later found rule-breaking had taken place at multiple events, and police issued fines to 83 people, including Mr Johnson himself, for breaching Covid laws.
The committee, chaired by veteran Labour MP Harriet Harman, but with a Conservative majority, said earlier this month that breaches of pandemic guidance would have been “obvious” to him at the time.
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