Boris Johnson will defend himself before MPs question him about Covid rule-breaking events.
Wednesday will be a crucial televised testimony session for the former prime minister before the Commons Privileges Committee.
The committee has not yet released its final verdict. But its initial update earlier this month suggested that Mr. Johnson may have repeatedly misled Congress.
Mr. Johnson denies misleading MPs.
Wednesday’s session, which could last up to five hours, will be an important opportunity for Mr. Johnson to convince the seven cross-party MPs who make up the committee that he did not mislead MPs in December 2021, including when he told the House of Commons that he had “received repeated assurances since these allegations emerged that there was no party and that no Covid rules were broken.
According to sources close to Mr. Johnson, he will publish a “compelling dossier” containing evidence and arguments that he did not intentionally mislead the British parliament.
In May of last year, senior civil servant Sue Gray conducted an investigation that revealed pervasive rule-breaking. Mr. Johnson was among the 83 individuals fined by police for attending illegal events.
If he fails to persuade the committee and is found culpable, he could be suspended from the House of Commons and even face a recall petition, which would result in a by-election if his suspension lasts longer than 10 days.
Crucially, though, any sanction against Mr. Johnson would require the approval of the House of Representatives.
According to the Sunday Times, Observer, and Sunday Telegraph, Mr. Johnson’s “dossier” will include advice he claims No 10 aides gave him at the time, advising him that Covid rules were not violated.
The Sunday Times quotes a source as saying that the messages demonstrate “in black and white” that what Mr. Johnson told Parliament was what he was advised to say by officials and his No. 10 team, alleging that he was compelled to rely on advice because he was not present at certain events.
The newspapers also report that his defense may repeat allegations of bias against former senior civil servant Sue Gray, whose investigation revealed widespread rule-breaking in Whitehall during the Covid investigation.
Sue Gray has since resigned and been offered the position of chief of staff to Sir Keir Starmer, which has angered Boris Johnson’s allies, including his erstwhile cabinet colleagues Jacob Rees-Mogg MP and Nadine Dorries MP.
The Labour Party has stated that it will provide the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA). The government’s appointments monitor, with all information related to its approach to her.
However, minister Jeremy Quin stated that her proposed transfer may have violated Whitehall’s regulations. As approval must be obtained before announcing a job offer.
Free choice
According to Downing Street sources, any sanctions against Mr. Johnson would be a matter for the House of Commons. Therefore, MPs will have a free vote and will not be “whipped” to vote a certain way.
This means that Tory MPs will not be required to vote on the proposed suspension of Owen Paterson. As they were in November 2021 when Mr. Johnson was still prime minister.
After a reaction, the government reversed course and allowed Mr. Paterson’s House of Commons suspension. He then resigned as a member of parliament.
Mr. Johnson’s MPs criticized him for being told to back Mr. Paterson amid Labour Party “sleaze” accusations. A few weeks later, the first Partygate stories began to circulate.
Mr. Johnson subsequently admitted he “crashed the car” in his handling of the Paterson controversy.
The position of Boris Johnson will be vindicated by the Privileges Committee, according to a spokesman for Mr. Johnson.
“The evidence will demonstrate that Boris Johnson did not intentionally mislead the legislature.”
The seven cross-party members of the Privileges Committee are investigating whether Mr. Johnson misled the House of Commons regarding Downing Street gatherings during Covid lockdowns.
In interim findings released earlier this month, the committee indicated that Mr. Johnson may have repeatedly misled Parliament. Citing evidence that “strongly suggests” Covid rule violations would have been “obvious” to him.
