Boris Johnson will submit his defence over whether he lied to MPs about Partygate today as MPs gear up for an explosive grilling that could decide his political future.
The shameless ex-Prime Minister will be hauled before the Commons Privileges Committee on Wednesday for up to four hours of questioning over his whether he misled Parliament about what he knew about lockdown boozing in No10.
In a desperate scramble to save his skin, Mr Johnson's team has handed over a bumper legal dossier to the Committee today, which is expected to include WhatsApps and other evidence his allies claim will vindicate him.
The 60-page document is expected to be published as early as this afternoon, including advice he relied on before making statements to Parliament.
More than £220,000 of taxpayers' cash has been allocated for the ex-PM's defence, with his allies mounting an aggressive briefing campaign to clear his name.
But the committee has already said earlier this month that evidence "strongly suggests" that Covid breaches would have been "obvious" to Mr Johnson - as he was at some of the rule-breaking bashes.
The stakes are high for Mr Johnson, who is desperate to revive his scandal-hit political career after being ousted from No10 by his own MPs last year.
Here's what you need to know.
What is the Privileges Committee?
The seven-strong committee of MPs looks into allegations of contempt of Parliament. Chaired by Labour veteran Harriet Harman, the cross-party group has a Tory majority.
For the past 11 months, the committee has been looking into whether Boris Johnson misled MPs when he denied there had been rule-breaking parties in No10.
Misleading the Commons is a serious offence and if MPs find it was "reckless or intentional" then it could amount to contempt of Parliament.
Why are they examining Boris Johnson?
MPs voted in favour of a probe into Mr Johnson's Partygate 'lies' in April last year - after he became the first sitting PM to receive a police fine.
In April 2022, Mr Johnson was fined by the Metropolitan Police over an impromptu birthday gathering in June 2020, along with his wife Carrie and Rishi Sunak.
Scotland Yard issued a whopping 126 fines in total for breaches of Covid rules in Downing Street and Whitehall.
Whitehall inquisitor Sue Gray also published a report in May, which blasted "failures of leadership" in No10 and laid bare how wine had been thrown on the walls, there had been vomiting, a fight and a “lack of respect” for cleaners and security staff.
The crux of the Privileges Committee investigation is whether Mr Johnson knowingly misled MPs on several occasions with his statements to the Commons.
He told Parliament on December 1 2021: “All guidance was followed completely in No10."
This was after the Mirror broke the Partygate scandal on December 1 2021. Our front page story detailed how Mr Johnson had given a speech at a packed leaving do in November 2020 and No10 staff had held a Christmas bash with a Christmas quiz and a Secret Santa in December, shortly before the PM cancelled Christmas.
On December 8 2021, Mr Johnson again told MPs: "The guidance was followed and the rules were followed at all times".
He also said: “I have been repeatedly assured since these allegations emerged that there was no party and that no Covid rules were broken."
The Committee is questioning what the ex-PM said about his own knowledge of the rule-breaking gatherings - because there is evidence that he attended them.
MPs visited No10 and found Mr Johnson could have seen gatherings in the Downing Street press office when he walked upstairs to his flat.
It published pictures of him at several gatherings, including his June 2020 birthday bash, a leaving do in November 2020, and another farewell drinks in January 2021.
And they also published bombshell WhatsApps from No10 aides struggling to come up with excuses for Partygate bashes.
In April 2021, months before the Mirror first broke the story - an aide said another official was "worried about leaks of PM having a piss up and to be fair I don't think it's unwarranted".
In January 2022, the No10 comms chief admitted "I’m struggling to come up with a way this one is in the rules in my head" over the PM's birthday bash.
What happens if they decide Boris Johnson DID mislead MPs?
The Committee can decide to sanction the ex-PM if they find he knowingly lied to Parliament.
If they recommend a significant suspension from the Commons - at least 10 sitting days - a recall petition would be triggered automatically.
If 10% of voters in his Uxbridge and South Ruislip seat want him out then a by-election is called.
But any sanction must be approved by a vote of MPs first.
Rishi Sunak has made it clear that he won't force Tory MPs to go easy on his old Cabinet colleague.
He told reporters in San Diego last week that "it wouldn't be right" for him to influence Conservatives in either direction.
What do Boris Johnson and his allies say?
Mr Johnson has brazenly claimed that he will be vindicated by the committee - and has sought to cast doubt on both Sue Gray's Partygate report and the MPs on the Privileges Committee.
His allies claim the probe could amount to a "witch hunt".
They have also sought to cast doubt on the impartiality of Ms Harman after she tweeted last year indicated she believed Mr Johnson had misled Parliament.
A spokesman for Mr Johnson said: "The Privileges Committee will vindicate Boris Johnson's position.
"The evidence will show that Boris Johnson did not knowingly mislead Parliament."
Which parties was Boris Johnson at?
May 15 2020: Cheese and wine in the No 10 garden. Around 20 people including Boris and Carrie Johnson were pictured gathered in the sunshine in the Downing Street garden. Mr Johnson insisted it was a meeting of “people at work, talking about work”. The police did not investigate this event.
- May 20 2020: BYOB garden party at Downing Street. The PM’s top aide Martin Reynolds invited 100 No10 staff to “make the most of the lovely weather ” and “bring your own booze" in a leaked email. Mr Johnson admitted to spending 25 minutes at the party, but notoriously claimed he thought it was a work event.
- June 19 2020: Boris Johnson's birthday. Staff gathered in the Cabinet Room for a surprise birthday celebration for the Prime Minister organised by his wife Carrie. Mrs Johnson led the staff in a chorus of happy birthday while the PM was presented with a cake, before tucking into picnic food from M&S. Mr and Mrs Johnson, and Rishi Sunak were all fined by police for attending this event.
November 13 2020: Leaving bash for spin doctor Lee Cain. Boris Johnson gave a leaving speech for spin chief Lee Cain, who left No 10 alongside Dominic Cummings. There are pictures of this event, with Mr Johnson raising a glass.
November 13 2020: Downing Street flat do. This allegation has never been fully examined. But sources told the Mirror that No10 aides “drank their socks off" at an alleged gathering - which was later dubbed the Abba Party as 'The Winner Takes it All' could be heard playing. Downing Street and Mrs Johnson have always denied this.
November 27 2020: Another special adviser leaves. Around 40 to 50 people crammed into a room in No10 for a leaving do for top aide Cleo Watson, sources told the Mirror. Police didn't look at this event.
December 15 2020: No 10 online Christmas quiz. The PM was pictured hosting a virtual Christmas quiz, with two staff by his side, as officials huddled around computers in Downing Street while enjoying drinks bought at a local Tesco Metro.
December 17 2020: No 10 leaving bash. Mr Johnson is understood to have attended a leaving do for his defence adviser in the run-up to Christmas 2020. He was “there for a few minutes to thank him for his service” as a “small number of No10 staff briefly said goodbye”.
January 14 2021: Prosecco-fuelled leaving drinks. A boozy gathering was held in No 10 to mark the departure of two private secretaries, where guests drank prosecco. The Privileges Committee also published a picture of this event.
