Boris Johnson seen for first time since Partygate defence dossier published
MPs investigating whether Boris Johnson lied to the House of Commons have published their Partygate evidence – hours before the former prime minister appears before them in a hearing which could determine his political future.
The Privileges Committee’s “core bundle” of evidence will be referred to throughout this afternoon’s session with Mr Johnson which is due to start at 2pm and could last four hours.
Mr Johnson said he is “very much” looking forward to the televised grilling, after he insisted there was “no evidence” he intentionally misled parliament over parties in Downing Street during the pandemic.
If the committee MPs find against him, they will decide a punishment, which could be a written apology, docking of salary or suspension from the Commons for a specific period.
In a 52-page defence submitted to the committee, the former prime minister said he was speaking in “good faith” when he told parliament that gatherings did not broke lockdown rules. He said that after learning they had, he corrected the record at the “earliest opportunity”.
