Boris Johnson’s three-and-a-half hours of evidence before the privileges committee dominates the UK front pages on Thursday, with the former prime minister described as “agile”, “defiant” and “rattled”.
The Guardian leads with “‘Flimsy’ Partygate answers leave Johnson on the brink”. The paper’s political editor says he faces being “formally reprimanded for recklessly misleading parliament”.
Guardian front page, Thursday 23 March 2023: 'Flimsy' Partygate answers leave Johnson on the brink pic.twitter.com/LeA6TCCQfN
— The Guardian (@guardian) March 22, 2023
The Times has “Johnson fights for his future,” reporting “the committee has to decide whether Johnson misled MPs. If they decide that he did so intentionally or recklessly, they may find him in contempt of parliament”.
The paper adds that a suspension of “ten days or more would make a by-election … almost inevitable”.
Thursday's Times: Johnson fights for his future #TomorrowsPapersToday #TheTimes #Times pic.twitter.com/XbzAkm5En4
— Tomorrows Papers Today (@TmorrowsPapers) March 22, 2023
“Johnson in peril after angry clashes with inquiry”, is the assessment in the i. Reporting on the hearing, the paper says “Former prime minister loses his cool and shouts ‘complete nonsense’ at MPs questioning him”.
Thursday's front page: Johnson in peril after angry clashes with inquiry#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/4V3QKdXQ3h
— i newspaper (@theipaper) March 22, 2023
The Telegraph splashes with: “Johnson besieged but defiant”. The paper says that he “hinted he could refuse to accept the inquiry’s verdict”.
However, analysis elsewhere on the front page could spell trouble for the former prime minister, with the paper’s associate editor writing, “The cults of Boris and Brexit are simultaneously imploding”.
The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph:
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) March 22, 2023
'Johnson besieged but defiant'#TomorrowsPapersToday
Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/x8AV4OoUh6 pic.twitter.com/9fz5NUmkxY
The Mail chooses to lead its front page with a comment piece from Sarah Vine: “Harman’s face was thunder. Boris was as agile as a cat. Pure box office but, after four nit-picking hours, had a single mind been changed?”
The columnist focuses on the entertainment value of the hearing, describing Johnson as, “the Captain Jack Sparrow of British politics”.
Thursday's @DailyMailUK #MailFrontPages pic.twitter.com/e2KAbESFMw
— Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) March 22, 2023
The Express focuses on the moment that Johnson swore his oath at the start of the hearing, with the headline, “Boris: hand on heart I did not lie to house”.
Thursday's front page - Boris: Hand On Heart I Did Not Lie To House #TomorrowsPapersToday https://t.co/K7FDEt4EKC pic.twitter.com/5hjnzNguiA
— Daily Express (@Daily_Express) March 22, 2023
The Metro has “Boris: the backlash”, reporting that “rattled Johnson gets grilled by MPs for hours”.
Tomorrow's Paper Today 📰
— Metro (@MetroUK) March 22, 2023
BORIS: THE BACKLASH
🔴 Rattled Johnson gets grilled by MPs for hours
🔴 Swears on Bible he didn't lie to parliament
🔴 Snaps: 'You don't know what you're saying'
🔴 Squirms over slogans and bottles of beer#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/DjBGD34MIJ
Scotland’s Daily Record is more forthright in its analysis. Under the banner, “Ex-PM’s lame lockdown party excuses”, the paper leads with the headline, “Ol’ blue lies is back”.
Tomorrow's Daily Record leads on Boris Johnson saying he had to attend lockdown-busting booze-ups in No10 to boost morale after “difficult” days at work #TomorrowsPapersToday @sgfmann pic.twitter.com/DMvYUncQ2v
— The Daily Record (@Daily_Record) March 22, 2023
Finally, the Mirror says Johnson has been accused of “insulting Covid families with a string of Partygate excuses”, under the headline: “Just drinks after a difficult day? Plenty of people were having difficult days, Boris”.
Thursday's front page: Johnson's party excuses #TomorrowsPapersTodayhttps://t.co/SCahVPvqe6 pic.twitter.com/6E9R1IBxS9
— The Mirror (@DailyMirror) March 22, 2023
