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Boris Johnson news – live: Committee publishes Partygate evidence ahead of ex-PM’s TV grilling

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”.

Key Points

  • Partygate evidence published

  • Boris Johnson ‘very much looking forward’ to hearing

  • Tory MPs left cold by ex-PM’s ‘weak defence’

  • From cake to Cummings: Key points from Boris Johnson’s Partygate defence

Partygate evidence published

09:14 , Liam James

The Privileges Committee has published a dossier of evidence collected during its investigation into whether former prime minister Boris Johnson deliberately misled parliament over rule-breaking Covid-19 lockdown parties.

Johnson is due to appear before the committee later on Wednesday.

09:08 , Liam James

We are waiting on the publication of the Privileges Committee’s evidence in the Partygate investigation over Boris Johnson’s Commons statements.

The evidence was due at 9am. We will bring you an update as soon as it is published.

Boris Johnson and Liz Truss set to vote against Rishi Sunak’s Brexit deal

09:01 , Liam James

Boris Johnson and Liz Truss have said they will vote against Rishi Sunak‘s Brexit deal.

Former prime minister, Mr Johnson, who had already voiced concerns about the deal brokered with Brussels, confirmed that he will not be backing the deal when MPs vote on the Stormont brake in the Commons later on Wednesday.

Thomas Kingsley writes:

Boris Johnson and Liz Truss set to vote against Rishi Sunak’s Brexit deal

Partygate evidence to be published ahead of Boris Johnson’s TV grilling

08:02 , Liam James

The Privileges Committee is set to publish its Partygate evidence at 9am – hours before Boris Johnson faces a grilling which could determine his political future.

The committee will publish a “core bundle” of evidence this morning which will be referred to throughout this afternoon’s session with the former prime minister which is due to get underway at 2pm and could last four hours.

All evidence compiled by the seven-member committee as part of its investigation into whether Mr Johnson knowingly misled the House of Commons over his partygate denials has already been shared with the former prime minister’s team.

Jeremy Hunt: Inflation fall not inevitable

08:02 , Liam James

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said that “falling inflation isn’t inevitable”, following the latest inflation figures.

The rate of Consumer Price Index inflation rose to 10.4 per cent in February from 10.1 per cent in January, according to the ONS.

“Falling inflation isn’t inevitable, so we need to stick to our plan to halve it this year,” the chancellor said.

“We recognise just how tough things are for families across the country, so as we work towards getting inflation under control we will help families with cost-of-living support worth £3,300 on average per household this year.”

Johnson’s partygate defence ‘complete and utter nonsense’, say Covid bereaved

07:45 , Liam James

A man whose father died with Covid-19, and was buried a day before Boris Johnson was photographed sitting with his wife Carrie and staff at a table with wine and cheese in the No 10 garden, described the former prime minister’s partygate defence as “complete and utter nonsense”.

Mr Johnson accepted he misled MPs, but said his denials were made “in good faith” based on what he “honestly” knew at the time.

Johnson’s partygate defence ‘complete and utter nonsense’, say Covid bereaved

Inflation rises to 10.4%

07:20 , Liam James

The rate of Consumer Prices Index inflation rose to 10.4 per cent in February, with food and drink prices again driving the rise, the Office for National Statistics said.

The latest rate was up from 10.1 per cent in January, but has not tipped near to last year’s peak of 11.1 per cent seen in October.

ONS chief economist Grant Fitzner said: “Inflation ticked up in February, mainly driven by rising alcohol prices in pubs and restaurants following discounting in January.

“Food and non-alcoholic drink prices rose to their highest rate in over 45 years with particular increases for some salad and vegetable items as high energy costs and bad weather across parts of Europe led to shortages and rationing.

“These were partially offset by falls in the cost of motor fuel, where the annual inflation rate has eased for seven consecutive months.”

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s pensions shake-up receives support from MPs

07:00 , Emily Atkinson

MPs have supported a pensions shake-up that Rishi Sunak claims will help reduce NHS waiting lists.

The Prime Minister argued the tax cut for people with pension pots worth more than £1 million will result in doctors taking on more hours, although he could not say how many will stay in work because of it.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt used his Budget last week to abolish the tax-free limit on pensions savings, which had stood at £1.07 million.

More on this story below:

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s pensions shake-up receives support from MPs

Watch: Boris Johnson’s key arguments to MPs ahead of Privileges Committee appearance

06:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Boris Johnson is set to appear before the Privileges Committee on Wednesday 22 March to answer questions from fellow MPs trying to determine if he lied to parliament with his Partygate denials.

The former prime minister published a defence dossier on Tuesday ahead of his appearance, appropriating blame to advisors and criticising parliament’s inquiry.

Here are some of the key arguments Mr Johnson made as his political fate hangs in the balance.

Boris Johnson’s key arguments to MPs ahead of Privileges Committee appearance

John Rentoul: What Boris Johnson said in his Partygate defence dossier – and what he really meant

06:00 , Emily Atkinson

Our chief political commentator reads between the lines of the former prime minister’s submission to the Committee of Privileges:

What Johnson said in his Partygate defence – and what he really meant | John Rentoul

From cake to Cummings: Key points from Boris Johnson’s Partygate defence

05:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Boris Johnson has accepted that he misled MPs but insisted his Partygate denials were made “in good faith” based on what he “honestly” knew at the time.

The former prime minister insisted in his written evidence to the Privileges Committee inquiry that he “did not intentionally or recklessly mislead the house”.

His 52-page defence dossier was published on Tuesday, a day before he faces a live grilling by the cross-party group of MPs in a hearing that could decide his political fate. The committee said Mr Johnson’s legal argument “contains no new documentary evidence” and that it had to be resubmitted on Tuesday because of “a number of errors and typos”.

Read the full story by Thomas Kingsley here:

From cake to Cummings: Key points from Boris Johnson’s Partygate defence

Watch: Rishi Sunak ‘proud’ of economic decisions after being told carer can’t afford a lightbulb

05:00 , Emily Atkinson

Boris Johnson’s ‘bombshell’ Partygate defence branded weak by Tory MPs ahead of TV grilling

04:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Boris Johnson faces a “torrid time” at Wednesday’s showdown grilling on whether he lied over Partygate, according to Conservatives MPs who branded his defence dossier weak and predicted that he would be found guilty and punished.

The former prime minister lashed out at the committee of MPs investigating whether he lied to parliament – accusing the cross-party group of “absurd, illogical and partisan” claims in his 52-page dossier.

Battling to save his career, Mr Johnson admitted that he had misled parliament about Covid rule-breaking – but insisted his denials were made “in good faith” based on what he “honestly” knew at the time.

Full story by Adam Forrest here:

Boris Johnson’s Partygate defence branded weak by Tory MPs

Pro-Brexit ERG brands key part of Rishi Sunak’s deal ‘practically useless’

04:00 , Emily Atkinson

A group of hardline Brexiteer Tory MPs have labelled a key element of Rishi Sunak’s post-Brexit deal with the EU “practically useless”.

The European Research Group (ERG) revealed its scathing verdict about the compromise agreement on the Northern Ireland Protocol struck last month, following analysis by its “star chamber” of lawyers.

But ERG chair Mark Francois refused to say how members will vote on the so-called Stormont brake when MPs get their say in the Commons on Wednesday.

Our political correspondent Adam Forrest reports:

Pro-Brexit Tory group brands key part of Rishi Sunak’s deal ‘practically useless’

Editorial: Boris Johnson can get angry over Partygate – but he will get no special treatment

03:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Loyalists to the ex-PM have made disgraceful attacks on the long-established and balanced procedure to deal with serious allegations against members of the House.

Editorial: Johnson’s get angry over Partygate – but he will get no special treatment

Suella Braverman backs Met Police chief as she rejects ‘institutional racism’ label

03:00 , Emily Atkinson

Suella Braverman has rejected the “label” of institutional racism, misogyny and homophobia applied to the Metropolitan Police by a damning review.

The home secretary backed commissioner Sir Mark Rowley’s stance on Baroness Casey’s report, which was triggered by the murder of Sarah Everard.

He told a press conference he accepted the “deeply troubling diagnosis” that the force contains racists, misogynists and homophobes and has systemic failings, but would not use the term “institutional”.

Our home affairs editor Lizzie Dearden has more:

Suella Braverman backs Met Police chief as she rejects ‘institutional racism’ label

Watch: Boris Johnson’s key arguments to MPs ahead of Privileges Committee appearance

02:00 , Emily Atkinson

Boris Johnson’s ‘bombshell’ Partygate defence branded weak by Tory MPs ahead of TV grilling

01:00 , Emily Atkinson

Boris Johnson faces a “torrid time” at Wednesday’s showdown grilling on whether he lied over Partygate, according to Conservatives MPs who branded his defence dossier weak and predicted that he would be found guilty and punished.

The former prime minister lashed out at the committee of MPs investigating whether he lied to parliament – accusing the cross-party group of “absurd, illogical and partisan” claims in his 52-page dossier.

Battling to save his career, Mr Johnson admitted that he had misled parliament about Covid rule-breaking – but insisted his denials were made “in good faith” based on what he “honestly” knew at the time.

Our political correspondent Adam Forrest reports:

Boris Johnson’s Partygate defence branded weak by Tory MPs

Sean O’Grady: Who is winning the Scottish leadership race? Not the SNP

00:00 , Emily Atkinson

It seems much longer than five weeks since Nicola Sturgeon announced her intention to resign as first minister of Scotland and as leader of the Scottish National Party, writes Sean O’Grady. Since her decision to depart front-line politics, and from a position of relative political strength and stability, the SNP has gone into apparent meltdown. Whoever gets to succeed Sturgeon will have to rebuild the party and the cause of independence as well as govern the country.

Who is winning the Scottish leadership race? Not the SNP

Watch: Putin hits out at British plans to supply Ukraine with weapons containing nuclear components

Tuesday 21 March 2023 23:00 , Emily Atkinson

Tom Peck: The hardline Brexiteers of the ERG have no choice but to live in their own fantasyland

Tuesday 21 March 2023 22:00 , Emily Atkinson

What made life tough was the occasional re-emergence of Mark Francois, given that his stupidity is so profound it comes with its own magnetic field, writes Tom Peck.

His role, since 2016, has been to turn up not when something stupid has happened, but when something sensible has happened, and to then say no to it, on account of it not being stupid enough for him.

The Brexiteers of the ERG have no choice but to live in fantasyland | Tom Peck

Rishi Sunak declines invitation to discuss NI protocol negotiations

Tuesday 21 March 2023 21:30 , Emily Atkinson

European Scrutiny Committee chair Sir William Cash has said prime minister Rishi Sunak declined an invitation to speak to the committee around the government’s negotiations around the Northern Ireland Protocol.

He complained it had “proven exceptionally difficult” to secure a minister to appear before the committee, as Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris appeared to answer questions.

 (REUTERS)
(REUTERS)

Sir William added: “We were promised engagement but the government has failed to deliver anything meaningful ... it appears clear to us that the government set its course weeks if not months ago and has done all it can to avoid being diverted from it.

“The Windsor Framework is a significant development in the UK’s post-Brexit relationship with the EU, it’s legal complexity speaks for us and there is a vast amount of paperwork, and its provisions will impact the people and businesses of Northern Ireland and Great Britain.”

We need to do more on the generators of growth, says former Tory minister

Tuesday 21 March 2023 21:00 , Emily Atkinson

A Tory former cabinet minister has said “we need to do more on the generators of growth”.

Simon Clarke, who served as communities secretary under Liz Truss and recently set up the Conservative Growth Group, told the Commons there were many welcomed measures in the Budget.

However, he noted “there were of course some aspects which I wish had been different”, adding: “I’ve made no secret of my deep concern about the decisions surrounding the future of our corporation tax increases. I think we’ve seen the consequences already with the decision of AstraZeneca to choose the Republic of Ireland over the UK for their next investment.

“I do welcome the offsetting benefits of the full expensing which was announced by the chancellor. If that is to work, it is vital that is a permanent decision rather than temporary relief otherwise it will have a distorting effect on business investment.”

He went on: “I also believe and this will not surprise members across the House that we need to do more on the generators of growth more generally. I would particularly point out the importance of housing...We know that in the end the only sustainable way to improve our economic activity in this space but also the social justice of our housing debate is to build more homes, addressing the challenges of both nimbyism, but also nutrient neutrality.”

Watch: Boris Johnson seen for first time since Partygate defence dossier published

Tuesday 21 March 2023 20:30 , Emily Atkinson

Important to have Stormont brake in place ‘sooner rather than later’, says NI secretary

Tuesday 21 March 2023 20:00 , Emily Atkinson

Asked whether a vote in the House of Commons on Wednesday is being regarded as a “meaningful vote” on the whole Windsor Framework, Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said it is a vote on the statutory instrument that activates the Stormont brake.

He told the European Scrutiny Committee that is important to have the Stormont brake in place “sooner rather than later because there has been a lot of speculation as to what it does and what it can’t do”.

“This codifies it in black and white so people can actually see it for itself as a very important part of that democratic check,” he said.

Johnson ‘very much looking forward’ to hearing

Tuesday 21 March 2023 19:30 , Emily Atkinson

Boris Johnson has said he is “very much” looking forward to his appearance before MPs investigating whether he knowingly misled Parliament over Partygate.

In a statement ahead of Wednesday’s hearing of the Commons Privileges Committee, the former prime minister said: “I look forward very much to the committee session tomorrow.

 (PA Wire)
(PA Wire)

“I believe that the evidence conclusively shows that I did not knowingly or recklessly mislead Parliament.

“The committee has produced not a shred of evidence to show that I have.”

Gary Lineker in pointed ‘fibs’ tweets after Boris Johnson’s Partygate defence published

Tuesday 21 March 2023 19:10 , Emily Atkinson

Gary Lineker has tweeted about people who “constantly tell fibs” less than an hour after Boris Johnson’s legal defence over Partygate was published.

The former PM insisted in his written evidence to the inquiry that his denials over lockdown parties in No 10 were made “in good faith” and based on what he “honestly” knew at the time.

The BBC football presenter tweeted: “When folk constantly tell fibs, it’s really difficult to know when they’re telling the truth. I imagine it’s even a challenge for themselves.”

Our political correspondent Adam Forrest reports:

Gary Lineker tweets about ‘fibs’ after Boris’s Partygate defence published

No 10 rejects ERG’s criticism of Windsor Framework

Tuesday 21 March 2023 18:50 , Emily Atkinson

Downing Street has rejected criticism from the European Research Group of the Stormont brake and the prime minister’s Windsor Framework deal.

The ERG called the brake “practically useless”.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “The brake addresses the democratic deficit and provides a clear democratic safeguard for the people of Northern Ireland.

“It goes further than the July 2021 command paper and the Bill, ends the ratchet of automatic presumption of dynamic alignment, it puts the arrangements in Northern Ireland under a new framework of democratic control. It covers all the rules that could cause issues for Northern Ireland and is a matter for the UK alone, with no role for the European Union in deciding when the brake is used or agreeing whether the rule is disapplied.

“Clearly we don’t accept that characterisation,” he said.

Watch: Key moments from Boris Johnson's Partygate 'dossier'

Tuesday 21 March 2023 18:30 , Emily Atkinson

No 10 refuses to be drawn over ex-PM’s dossier

Tuesday 21 March 2023 18:10 , Emily Atkinson

Downing Street refused to be drawn on Boris Johnson’s claim that it “remains unclear” to him, and possibly prime minister Rishi Sunak, about why they were fined for breaching lockdown laws.

The claim came in his submission to the Privileges Committee.

The prime minister’s official spokesman referred to Mr Sunak’s statement at the time, saying: “You’ll remember the prime minister and then chancellor issued a statement at the time and I think he set out his position and views very clearly on that. I don’t have any more to add to what he said.”

The spokesman said that Mr Sunak would not be watching Mr Johnson’s appearance before the Privileges Committee on Wednesday.

Rishi Sunak says he’s ‘proud’ of economic record after being told of carer who can’t afford light bulb

Tuesday 21 March 2023 17:50 , Emily Atkinson

Rishi Sunak said he was “proud” of his economic record when questioned about a carer who cannot afford to buy a light bulb in the cost of living crisis.

In a BBC Breakfast interview on Tuesday morning, the prime minister was challenged on the impact of the crisis and was told of a carer called Nicky, forced to sit in darkness in her kitchen because she cannot afford a light bulb on her £10.50 an hour wage.

“She can’t afford a light bulb until her daughter gets paid next week,” interviewer Jon Kay told the prime minister.

Thomas Kingsley has more:

Sunak says he’s ‘proud’ of record after being told carer can’t afford light bulb

Sunak team has more damaging material on Boris, says Cummings

Tuesday 21 March 2023 17:30 , Emily Atkinson

Dominic Cummings has claimed that Rishi Sunak’s team will have access to far more damaging material in government which could “smash” Mr Johnson’s chances of returning to No 10. “Much remains unpublished,” he wrote in a new blog.

He added: “So if Sunak’s team is crashing, there’ll be people in No 10 who’ll think ‘we may be doomed but we’ll finish the trolley off’. And spads [special advisers] who’d relish it will be helped by officials who don’t want the trolley smashing around again as they prepare for Starmer.”

Windsor Framework ‘a turning point for Northern Ireland’

Tuesday 21 March 2023 17:10 , Emily Atkinson

Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton-Harris has told the European Scrutiny Committee that his primary objective is to get the Stormont Executive and Assembly up and running.

He described the Windsor Framework as representing an “important opportunity for a turning point for Northern Ireland”.

 (PA)
(PA)

He insists it protects the economic rights of the people in Northern Ireland, and deals with the every day issues that people and businesses in the region had faced due to the operation of the Brexit protocol.

“We have rewritten the protocol treaty and replaced it with a radical legally binding new Windsor Framework, something many said could not be done,” he told MPs.

Gove urges government to ‘empower local leaders'

Tuesday 21 March 2023 16:50 , Emily Atkinson

Government needs to “empower local leaders” to see sustainable growth, communities secretary Michael Gove told MPs.

Referring to Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, Mr Gove said he has “signed a devolution deal, a new trailblazer deal and Mayor Burnham says that this deal marks a new era for English devolution”.

He added: “I know there will be some Conservatives who will not always necessarily want to hear praise for Mayor Burnham, but I think it’s important that we all recognise across this House, if we want to see our country operate in a way which gives us truly sustainable growth, that we need to empower local leaders.”

‘Over 168 years since a party in power had wages lower at the end of its time in office’

Tuesday 21 March 2023 16:30 , Emily Atkinson

It is “over 168 years” since a “party in power had wages lower at the end of its time in office”, shadow climate secretary Ed Miliband has claimed.

He said: “The Office for Budget Responsibility says we’re in the midst of the biggest fall in living standards on record, not a mention of that in (Michael Gove’s) pantomime speech...How can that be a plan that is working?”

 (via REUTERS)
(via REUTERS)

He added: “Over 168 years this fovernment stands out for its failure to deliver on what I think all sides can agree that British people have a right to expect which is rising standards of living, and throw in the highest tax burden since the 1950s, public services which are crumbling in so many areas, debt up, it’s no wonder the British people are asking what do they have to show for 13 years of this lot.”

Raising the abolition of the pensions tax relief Lifetime Allowance, he said Labour “will be forcing a vote this evening”, adding: “So I say to members on all sides of the House, when they vote on this measure tonight, if they vote for this Budget measure, they will be voting for a tax cut of almost £250,000 for people with a £2 million pension pot. That might be the right priority for them, it’s not the right priority for us.”

Watch: Boris Johnson accepts he misled MPs but insists he spoke ‘in good faith’

Tuesday 21 March 2023 16:10 , Emily Atkinson

Boris Johnson ‘trusted Christmas party was within the rules'

Tuesday 21 March 2023 15:50 , Emily Atkinson

Boris Johnson said he trusted the assurances of his former director of communications Jack Doyle that a mid-pandemic Christmas party was “within the rules”.

“It is in this context that I understood that members of the press office, who were gathered for work purposes in No 10 leading the Government’s response to Covid-19, had wine and cheese and exchanged gifts at their desk.

 (PA Wire)
(PA Wire)

“This did not sound to me like a breach of the rules or the guidance, let alone a party. Based on the information with which I was provided, this sounded like it was firmly within the work exception, and consistent with the guidance.

“Drinking wine or exchanging gifts at work and whilst working did not, in my view, turn an otherwise lawful workplace gathering into an unlawful one.”

Johnson claims he used word ‘party' as a shorthand

Tuesday 21 March 2023 15:30 , Emily Atkinson

In one section of his defence dossier, Boris Johnson cites WhatsApp messages, where he says he used the word “party” as a shorthand and wanted “the truth” to be published.

“Further support can be found in the contemporaneous WhatsApp messages involving me, which are in the committee’s possession.

“On 10 December 2021, I sent a message to Jack Doyle, stating: “Is there a way we could get the truth about this party out there”. I trusted the assurances that Jack Doyle and others had given me, so I wanted the “truth” as they had explained it and as I honestly believed it, to be published.

“I used “party” as shorthand because that it how it was being referred to in the media.”

Voices: ‘There are no bombshells in Boris Johnson’s angry pre-emptive strike against the Partygate committee’

Tuesday 21 March 2023 15:09 , Emily Atkinson

Johnson’s case rests heavily on the issue of intent, writes Andrew Grice. His allies hope this is what will allow the man David Cameron dubbed a “greased piglet” to wriggle free once again. However, it is far from clear the defence he set out today will pass the crucial test set by the committee – that if he misled the Commons (which even he admits), whether his actions were “inadvertent, reckless, or intentional.”

Opinion: There’s no bomshells in Boris Johnson’s Partygate defence dossier