The privileges committee launched its probe after an independent inquiry into the so-called partygate scandal,which blamed a “failure of leadership and judgement” for the lockdown-busting parties that took place at 10 Downing Street during the COVID pandemic.
For months the committee has investigated whether Johnson knowingly misled MPs when he told them in late 2021 that no COVID rules had been broken at parties. After investigations,the Metropolitan Police issued 126 fines for COVID law breaches to 83 people over eight government events,including a notorious “bring-a-bottle” party in the garden of the prime minister’s office.
Police fined Johnson and multiple other aides and fellow MPs,including current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in April,for their part in the events. The issue played a major part in Johnson’s downfall eventually leading to a mass cabinet revolt and his resignation.
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Johnson said he took “full responsibility” for everything that took place on his watch at Downing Street,conceding “of course true” that his statements in the House of Commons - that the COVID rules and guidance had been followed at all times - turned out not to be correct.
“I was not trying to conceal these events because I believed that there was nothing to conceal or cover up,” Johnson wrote in his defence,released by the committee a day before he appears in person before it.