Boris Johnson – live: Ex-PM says ‘completely wrong’ to think he was partying during lockdown

Boris Johnson said it was “completely wrong” to say he partied during lockdown, as he accused MPs probing whether he misled the House of Commons of bias in their investigation.

After swearing on a bible, he tried to discredit the seven-strong cross-party panel, attacking chair Harriet Harman as “prejudicial” and suggesting the proceedings were “extremely peculiar”.

During his opening statement – which was interrupted by a vote on Northern Ireland – he told the committee “hand on heart I did not lie to the House”.

Facing questions from veteran Tory MP Sir Bernard Jenkin, the former prime minister said leaving drinks for departing aide Lee Cain “had to happen”, adding: “If anyone thinks I was partying during lockdown, they’re completely wrong.”

Mr Johnson must answer claims from one-time aides and No 10 insiders which sit uncomfortably alongside his defence that he was told Covid rules were fully observed at Downing Street parties during lockdown.

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.

Key Points

• ‘Completely wrong’ to say I partied in lockdown, says Boris Johnson

• Leaving drinks ‘had to happen’, Johnson argues

• Dominic Cummings says ‘rat brain’ former boss ‘calculating'

• Ex-PM on the attack against ‘prejudical’ Partygate committee

• ‘Hand on heart I did not lie’: Johnson sets stakes

Watch live: Boris Johnson in Partygate committee hearing

13:54 , Liam James

Independent TV is hosting the prime minister’s appearance before the Privileges Committee live on YouTube.

Tune in here:

Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson to earn £100,000 for presenting GB News show

20:30 , Emily Atkinson

Conservative deputy chairman Lee Anderson has revealed he will be paid £100,000 a year for hosting a show on GB News.

The annual fee, declared in an update to the MPs’ register of interests published on Wednesday, is a significant increase on the £200 weekly payment he received for appearing as a regular on Dan Wootton’s show.

The controversial MP for Ashfield, in Nottinghamshire, became the fifth Tory MP to host a GB News show when his deal with the channel was announced on March 7.

More on this here:

Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson to earn £100,000 for presenting GB News show

ICYMI | Boris admits he got no assurance on Covid guidance being followed

19:50 , Emily Atkinson

Asked by Tory MP Alberto Costa if he had no assurance that the 18 December 2020 Christmas party was compliant with Covid guidance, Boris Johnson said: “Yes. It’s correct to say that I did not … that I didn’t receive assurances about the 18 December event, the guidance.”

He added: “But until Martin Reynolds made his point to me on the morning of the 8 December [2021], nobody had said anything to me adverse about our following of the guidance.”

ICYMI | Harriet Harman responds to Boris Johnson’s accusations of prejudice

19:30 , Emily Atkinson

Key points from Boris Johnson’s Partygate probe grilling

19:10 , Emily Atkinson

Boris Johnson swore “hand on heart, I did not lie to the House” as he fought to defend himself during questioning by MPs over whether he misled the Commons with his denials about Partygate – in a hearing that could determine his political fate.

The former prime minister, in a bullish opening statement, claimed that after 10 months of investigations, the privileges committee had found “nothing” to prove that he was aware any of the gatherings that took place were illegal or breached the rules.

He criticised the committee for not accepting his demands to publish all the evidence it had gathered. He said that the committee, as “investigator, prosecutor, judge and jury” had only published the evidence it had considered incriminating.

All the key points from today’s explosive hearing can be found here:

Key points from Boris Johnson’s Partygate probe grilling

Sunak accused of sneaking out tax returns during busy news day

18:50 , Emily Atkinson

Rishi Sunak was accused of sneaking out details of his tax affairs on a busy news day by the Liberal Democrats.

The party’s Cabinet Office spokesperson Christine Jardine said: “After months of promising to release his tax returns, I don’t understand why Rishi Sunak has snuck them out whilst the world is distracted with Boris Johnson’s partygate grilling.

“People will be much more concerned today about the staggering tax hikes Rishi Sunak has imposed on them.

“The blunt truth is that we should judge politicians on their actions, not their wealth. Rishi Sunak will be remembered as the tax-hiking Prime Minister and no Boris Johnson distraction will stop that.”

'Complete nonsense': Moment Boris Johnson loses his cool in combative Partygate hearing

18:30 , Emily Atkinson

Johnson loyalists out in full force on Twitter

18:17 , Emily Atkinson

Sean O’Grady: The Boris Johnson Show is all about distraction from his weak Partygate defence

18:15 , Emily Atkinson

It really wouldn’t be an episode of the ‘Boris Johnson Show’ if the star and central character kicked off with an expression of regret, contrition or even sympathy for all those who followed the rules, made sacrifices and endured hardships while Johnson himself presided over a culture of serial rule-breaking and contempt for the public who weren’t invited to “bring their own booze”.

Instead, at the outset, Johnson attacked the Privileges Committee for not publishing all the evidence and allowing “parliament and the public to make their own minds up”. He told the chair of the committee, Harriet Harman she was prejudiced. Immediately he tried therefore to undermine the committee, the better to continue his fight when the whole House – including ardent Boris fans such as Nadine Dorries and James Duddridge will try and organise a rearguard action to save him.

The Boris Johnson Show is all about distraction | Sean O’Grady

‘Utterly insane to lie to parliament'

17:54 , Emily Atkinson

During his hearing in front of the privileges committee, Boris Johnson said it would have been “utterly insane” for him to have misled parliament and it would be unfair and wrong for MPs to conclude he had.

The former prime minister said: “I think if this committee were to find me in contempt of parliament - having come and done something so utterly insane and contrary to my beliefs and my principles as to come here, to come to parliament and wittingly lie - I think that would be not only unfair, I think it would be wrong.”

More key moments from Boris Johnson’s hearing

17:45 , Emily Atkinson

A few key moments now from the testy hearing of Boris Johnson.

First up is evidence from Jack Doyle, the ex-PM’s comms chief when the Partygate story broke.

The committee heard him express doubts about compliance with Covid rules in relation to a gathering on June 19 2020 that marked the then-prime minister’s birthday.

Tory MP Alberto Costa told the committee Mr Doyle was “himself doubtful” and referred to WhatsApp messages sent by him discussing the June event in which he said he was “struggling” to reason that the gathering was in the rules, and he was “not sure” it would “work” to suggest it was reasonably necessary for work purposes.

Mr Johnson responded: “I was not aware that he sent that WhatsApp, he didn’t send it to me. This is, I think, on January 25, which was long after we started the process which was to become the Sue Gray inquiry.”

He added that Mr Doyle was not at the event, was relying on “media descriptions” of it, and did not raise any concerns with him about it.

Questions conclude

17:21 , Emily Atkinson

Questions have now concluded.

Ms Harman now invites Mr Johnson to make “any final points” that he hasn’t already mentioned or have not come up in the committee’s questioning.

“Thank you, I have very much enjoyed our discussion,” Mr Johnson said, to a brief outburst of laughter.

“I genuinely think it has been a useful discussion and I hope it’s clear to the committee what was in my heart and in my mind.”

Mr Johnson left the Privileges Committee hearing flanked by supporters and his legal team after a lengthy session in front of MPs.

‘Kangaroo court'

17:17 , Emily Atkinson

Boris Johnson has softened criticism of the committee investigating whether he misled parliament.

Tory MP Alberto Costa told him “you wouldn’t characterise it as a witch hunt or a kangaroo court” - terms used by Mr Johnson’s allies.

Mr Johnson said he regrets the term kangaroo court.

“I deprecate the term - I don’t want to use it... I have every confidence that you will be fair,” he said.

It comes after devout Johnsonite Jacob Rees-Mogg said Labour MP Harriet Harman’s position as chairwoman of the privileges committee was “absurd” and added that describing the process as a kangaroo court was “being very rude to marsupials”.

Allies of Boris Johnson have criticised Ms Harman over an April 2022 tweet in which she suggested that by accepting a fine for breaking Covid rules he was also admitting misleading the House.

Rishi Sunak made £1.9m last year as PM releases long-awaited tax return

17:07 , Emily Atkinson

To turn attention away from the committee briefly, a story that would on any other day make front pages has just broken...

Rishi Sunak has published his long-awaited personal tax returns, showing that he paid more than £1m in UK tax over three years.

The returns show the prime minister raked in more than £1.9m last year, including £1.6m in capital gains and more than £300,000 in salary earnings and investment income.

His financial affairs have come under intense scrutiny ever since The Independent first revealed his wife Akshata Murty held special non-dom tax status.

More on this from our political correspondent Adam Forrest:

Rishi Sunak releases long-awaited tax return

Rattled ex-PM grilled over advice

17:04 , Emily Atkinson

Sir Bernard Jenkins is continuing to press Mr Johnson on the advice he sought on the nature of the gatherings held in No 10 during lockdown.

“I put it to you Mr Johnson that you did not take proper advice?” Mr Jenkins said.

Mr Johnson insisted he had contacted the “relevant people”.

The former prime minister then became visibly bad-tempered, as he accused Sir Bernard of spouting “utter nonsense”.

‘Flimsy assurances'

16:58 , Emily Atkinson

Boris Johnson is being grilled over why he relied on “flimsy” assurances from political advisers who dealt with the media, rather than the scrutiny of a permanent civil servant or a government lawyer.

“The simple answer is when I needed to discover whether the rules were broken I asked the senior adviser who was there and that was Jack Doyle,” Mr Johnson says, referring to the former communications chief

The ex-PM said Mr Doyle confirmed in a WhatsApp exchange that he was assured there was no party and no rules were broken.

He said he followed this up with a phone call with James Slack, another ex-comms director.

Johnson says he then rang James Slack – another former director of comms.

Chair Harriet Harman challenged Mr Johnson, saying: “Do you think we are entitled to be a bit dismayed about the flimsy nature of these assurances?”

Watch: People who say garden party event was purely social are ‘quite wrong’

16:52 , Emily Atkinson

‘Hindsight’s a wonderful thing'

16:47 , Emily Atkinson

Committee member and Tory MP Andy Carter says he accepts that a busy prime minister may need to rely on advisers to navigate his day.

Mr Carter then questioned whether at any point Mr Johnson questioned the events occurring in No 10.

“Hindsight’s a wonderful thing,” Mr Johnson replied. “But no, at the time I thought we were working,” he says.

Invesigation ordered by PM ‘troubled’ by ‘conflicting information’ over Christmas Party

16:43 , Emily Atkinson

A civil service investigation into Partygate allegations was ordered because Boris Johnson said he was “troubled” about “conflicting information” he was receiving in relation to reports of a Downing Street Christmas Party in 2020.

The former prime minister told MPs on the Privileges Committee: “When the Allegra (Stratton) video emerged... I decided that I was getting conflicting information about what had happened at this gathering on 18 December. I was troubled by that.

“I hadn’t been at the thing, I was relying on what I thought were the honest and well-intentioned descriptions of this from my trusted advisers.

“But clearly there was a difference of opinion.

“So I commissioned the Cabinet Secretary to conduct an inquiry, that’s the most important thing that I did.”

Staff didn’t touch each other’s pens – but passed each other drinks, says Boris

16:37 , Emily Atkinson

Boris Johnson, insisting that No 10 staff were at pains to follow social distancing guidelines, said: “We didn’t touch each other’s pens.”

Committee chair Harriet Harman: “But you were passing drinks to each other, we can see the drinks in the photos.”

Mr Johnson replied: “Yes, we were of course.”

‘No knowledge’ of wine and cheese event

16:36 , Emily Atkinson

Mr Johnson has denied attending or knowing about a cheese and wine event in the press room of the “vestibule” at 10 Downing Street on 18 December 2020.

SNP MP Allan Dorans told him the committee visited Downing Street and said the former prime minister would have had “direct sight” of the vestibule from his flat, before asking whether it was Mr Johnson’s evidence that he did not hear or see a gathering of at least 25 people.

“If I had looked out, what I would have seen, I’m sure, was people doing a huge amount of work on a very, very busy evening,” Mr Johnson said.

“I didn’t look, I certainly have no memory of seeing any kind of party or illicit gathering going on in the press room that evening. The first I knew about it was when it was brought to my attention... almost a year later.

“Nobody raised any anxiety about that event with me before I stood up in the House of Commons.”

Mr Johnson also denied knowledge of gatherings in Number 10 on December 17 2020 and April 16 2021.

Bereaved families attack ‘new low’ for Boris Johnson

16:33 , Emily Atkinson

Turning away from the Commons for a moment, the families of those who lost relatives and friends to Covid have weighed in on the prime minister’s bullish appearance in front of the privileges committee this afternoon:

A spokesperson for Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice said Wednesday marked “a new low” for Boris Johnson amid the hearing investigating his denials surrounding Partygate.

Rivka Gottlieb said: “Today was a new low for Boris Johnson. It’s clear he lied when he said to our faces that he’d done ‘all he could’ to protect our loved ones, he lied again when he said the rules hadn’t been broken in Number 10, and he’s lying now when he denies that was the case.

“He claims it was ‘his job’ to say goodbye to colleagues, that he ‘would have needed an electric fence’ around him to stick to the rules, and that social distancing only applied ‘when possible’.

“Did any of this apply when we couldn’t be with our loved ones for weeks as they suffered alone in care homes and hospitals, or even be there to hold their hands in their dying moments?

“Bereaved families found it painful to watch him pull his usual tricks of deflection, self-pity and blaming everyone but himself. The fact that it appears he didn’t fully understand the rules he was setting and communicating to the nation is especially galling.

“He isn’t fit for public office and if had any respect he’d resign as an MP and quietly reflect on the pain and suffering he has inflicted on so many.”

Johnson grilled over ‘multiple bottles of alcohol'

16:20 , Emily Atkinson

Boris Johnson has dismissed as false evidence from an official who attended an event on 14 January 2021, who said the gathering was not strictly about work.

Mr Johnson insisted it was essential to thank staff for their service throughout the pandemic and that few occasions of that nature were held.

“It wasn’t just staff who were leaving who needed to be appreciated but staff who were there who needed to be motivated,” he told the committee.

Questions then turned to the multiple bottles of alcohol in the photograph and if it was necessary for a work event.

Mr Johnson explained: “It customary to say farewell to people in this country with a toast, I didn’t see any sign of drunkenness I had no idea why anyone would be fined for that event.”

Was No 10 the exception to lockdown rules?

16:03 , Liam James

Labour MP Yvonne Fovargue asked whether Boris Johnson thought No10 was the exception to rules unlike doctors, healthcare workers and hospitals who were also having an incredibly difficult time.

“Of course not,” he replied, “and that’s why we had all the stipulations ... about following the guidance.”

Boris Johnson ‘doesn’t remember’ joke about ‘most unsocially distanced’ event

16:01 , Liam James

Boris Johnson, asked about a joke he was alleged to have made on November 27 2020 that an event in Downing Street was the “most unsocially distanced party in the UK right now”.

Mr Johnson told the Privileges Committee: “I don’t remember saying those words.

“I think it unlikely that I would have said those words given what I have had to say to the committee just now about my memory of the event.

“My visual memory of the event was that it was much more, as Cleo Watson describes, it was a clutch of people around that table ... I don’t remember people being four or five deep.”

The former prime minister said he thought it “unlikely” he, as claimed by an unnamed No 10 official, made a joke about a leaving-do being “probably the most unsocially distanced gathering in the UK right now”.

Garden party was not a ‘social gathering,’ says Boris Johnson

15:57 , Liam James

Labour MP Yvonne Fovargue now asks Boris Johnson about his former aide Lee Cain’s claim that a party in the Downing Street garden was a “purely social event”.

Mr Johnson said it was “not a large social gathering”. He added: “People who say we were partying at No 10 simply do not know what they are talking about.”

‘No sense’ birthday party broke rules, says Johnson

15:52 , Liam James

On his birthday party in Downing Street on 19 June 2020, Boris Johnson said: “I had absolutely no sense while this event was taking place and indeed later on at any time was in contravention of the rules at any time ... I think the then-chancellor who also received an FPN would have been as surprised as I was.”

In his defence dossier submitted to the Privileges Committee, Mr Johnson said, at the party, “no cake was eaten, and no one even sang happy birthday. The primary topic of conversation was the response to Covid-19.”

Downing Street decorator only ‘popped her head round door’, says Boris Johnson

15:49 , Liam James

The interior designer who ended up at a Downing Street party in lockdown was a “contractor who was working in the building, who popped her head round the door”, Boris Johnson told the Privileges Committee.

Lulu Lyttle was behind the controversial renovation of the Downing Street flat, which The Independent revealed cost £200,000.

The designer was inexplicably present at a gathering in No 10 on 19 June 2020, when Mr Johnson’s birthday was celebrated.

Johnson characterises Lee Cain leaving party as ‘urgent’ meeting

15:46 , Liam James

Footage here of Boris Johnson’s claim that Lee Cain’s leaving drinks “had to happen”.

‘You’re repeating yourself,’ Sir Bernard Jenkin tells ex-PM

15:40 , Liam James

Sir Bernard Jenkin admonished Mr Johnson for his lengthy answers to the committee

The veteran Tory MP said: “You are giving very long answers… and repeating yourself quite a lot”

Sir Bernard Jenkin tells Boris Johnson investigation could have been avoided

15:35 , Liam James

Veteran Tory MP Sir Bernard Jenkin suggested Boris Johnson could have avoided the contempt proceedings if he had given a fuller account to Parliament.

The former prime minister said: “Why I believed, when I stood up on December 1, that the guidance was followed completely at all times in No 10, what picture I had in my head – and why that doesn’t conflict with that picture [of Lee Cain’s leaving drinks] – the answer is that I knew from my direct personal experience that we were doing a huge event to stop the spread of Covid within the building.

“We had sanitisers, windows were kept open, we had people working outdoors wherever they could, we had Zoom meetings, we had restrictions on the number of people in rooms, we had Perspex screens between desks and – above all – we had testing, regular testing, which went way beyond what the guidance described, and which, in my view, helped mitigate the difficulties we had in maintaining perfect social distancing.”

Sir Bernard said: “I’m bound to say that if you said all that at the time to the House of Commons, we probably wouldn’t be sitting here. But you didn’t.”

The MP also told Mr Johnson: “I don’t think we agree with your interpretation of the guidance”.

Boris Johnson: Who is Sir Bernard Jenkin and who else is on the Privileges Committee?

15:33 , Liam James

Sir Bernard Jenkin is another veteran MP. A Conservative, he has been in Parliament since 1992.

A veteran Tory Eurosceptic and chairman of the powerful Liaison Committee, he was a critic of Mr Johnson’s handling of the Chris Pincher affair and is an often vocal voice from the backbenches.

More on the panel here:

Dominic Cummings says ‘rat brain’ Boris Johnson calculated evidence

15:32 , Liam James

Boris Johnson’s former top aide Dominic Cummings said his former boss was calculating in drawing him into evidence to the Partygate hearing.

In his evidence to the investigation, Mr Johnson said Mr Cummings could not be trusted as a “credible witness” because “he hates me”.

Writing on his blog as the Privileges Committee hearing began, Mr Cummings said Mr Johnson’s reference to him was designed to garner sympathy among MPs for the former prime minister’s position.

“Reason why he’s stressing me is simple — his rat brain tells him that the MPs hate me about as much as they hate him, maybe more!, so he wants them thinking ‘do I want to do what Cummings wants and do the trolley in?’”

‘Completely wrong’ to say I partied in lockdown, says Boris Johnson

15:21 , Liam James

Boris Johnson said it was “completely wrong” to say he was partying while ordinary Britons were under lockdown.

The former prime minister said it was “necessary” for him to attend leaving drinks for departing direetor of communication Lee Cain, adding: “If anyone thinks I was partying during lockdown, they’re completely wrong.”

He also says the gathering was “not a party” and he was thanking staff on the day in question.

‘No guidance says you can party'

15:12 , Liam James

Tory MP and committee member Sir Bernard Jenkin told Boris Johnson that the Covid-19 guidance “does not say … you can have a thank you party… even if you think it is very important. The guidance does not say that”.

Mr Johnson said the lockdown party for departing director of communications Lee Cain was “was necessary”.

MPs start grilling Boris Johnson on his Partygate claims

15:10 , Liam James

MPs have begun their questioning of Boris Johnson. Sir Bernard Jenkin asks the first question of the hearing.

He starts by reminding Mr Johnson of what he was telling the country when these gatherings were taking place at No 10.

“There can be no doubt that you understood what the guidance and rules meant and were intended to to achieve. Yes or no?”

Mr Johnson replies: “Yes.”

Leaving drinks ‘had to happen’, Boris Johnson argues

15:04 , Liam James

On the Lee Cain leaving drinks, Boris Johnson said that a leaving do for his former communications chief Lee Cain “had to happen”.

It “was necessary because two senior members of staff… were about to leave the building in … potentially acrimonious circumstances … it was important for me to be there to give reassurance”.

He also described it as an “urgent” meeting.

Earlier in proceedings, he said: “I will believe until the day I die it was my job to thank the staff”

Why would I let photographer into rule-breaking party, Boris Johnson asks

14:58 , Liam James

Boris Johnson said it was “nonsense” to suggest that it should have been obvious to him that rules were being broken in No 10 because of the pictures of him at events.

To suggest there were “illicit events in No 10 while allowing these events to be immortalised by an official photographer is staggeringly implausible”.

He said: “It seems to be the view of the committee and sadly many members of the public that they show me attending rule-breaking parties where no one was social distancing. They show nothing of the kind.

“They show me giving a few words of thanks at a work event for a departing colleague. They show me with my red box passing on the way to another meeting or heading back into my flat to carry on working, often late into the night.

“They show a few people standing together – as permitted by the guidance – where full social distancing is not possible and where mitigating measures are taken. They show events which I was never fined for attending.”

Boris Johnson continues attack on Partygate committee

14:47 , Liam James

Boris Johnson said “much of this interrogation is theoretically irrelevant, but I’m going to take that in my stride”.

He said he wants to help the committee understand why he said the comments to Parliament under investigation and “whether I deliberately set out to deceive”.

“I empathically did not,” he adds.

Boris Johnson goes on the attack against ‘prejudical’ Partygate committee

14:43 , Liam James

Boris Johnson has attacked the Privileges Committee over what he claims is a prejudical approach to the investigation.

“Everybody knows there are some features of this proceeding which are extremely peculiar,” he said.

He also said committee chair Harriet Harman’s previous comments “prejudge” the outcome. “You have said some things about this matter before reading the evidence ... which prejudge what you are adjudicating,” he said.

Boris Johnson drags Rishi Sunak into Partygate evidence

14:39 , Liam James

Boris Johnson has dragged Rishi Sunak into his evidence to the Partygate hearing.

He listed the prime minister among several high ranking officials and civil servants who attended gatherings in Downing Street.

He said: “If it was obvious to me that these events were contrary to the guidance and the rules, then it must have been equally obvious to dozens of others, including the most senior officials in the country, all of them – like me – responsible for drawing up the rules.

“And it must have been obvious to others in the building including the current prime minister.”

He went on: “I don't think you seriously mean to accuse those individuals of lying, and I don't think you can seriously mean to accuse me of lying.”

Boris Johnson back before Partygate hearing

14:36 , Liam James

Boris Johnson has returned to the Privileges Committee hearing after a call to vote briefly interrupted proceedings.

Photographs prove nothing, says Boris Johnson

14:34 , Liam James

In critical comments to the committee, Boris Johnson said the MPs had suggested in their reports that photos from Downing Street parties means he was aware of rule-breaking.

He said this was “nonsense”.

“These photos have now been churned through the media for more than a year, and it seems to be the view of the committee and sadly, many members of the public that they show me attending rule-breaking parties when no one was social distancing. They show nothing of the kind. They show me giving a few words of thanks at a work event for a departing colleague.”

He said he is aware the public “will have had the impression that these were covered photos with their sinister pixelation that have been obtained by the media”.

He said the vast majority were in fact taken by the official Number 10 photographer, so to say they would have held illicit events in Downing Street while “allowing these events to be immortalised by an official photographer is staggeringly implausible”.

Partygate: Johnson shown supercut of times he told parliament he followed the rules

14:31 , Liam James

Before Boris Johnson’s statement to the hearing began, he was shown a video of his Partygate related comments to the Commons.

‘Hand on heart’ I didn’t lie, says Boris Johnson

14:29 , Liam James

Boris Johnson told the committee: “I’m here to say to you, hand on heart, that I did not lie to the House. When those statements were they made in good faith and on the basis of what I honestly knew and believed at the time.”

The ex-PM said the committee had “found nothing to show that I was warned in advance that events in No 10 were illegal”, adding: “In fact, nothing that anyone raised anxieties with me about any event, whether before or after it had taken place.”

Mr Johnson claimed his former adviser Dominic Cummings – who has claimed he told the then-PM that a May 2020 garden party would breach rules – had “every motive to lie”.

Mr Johnson also called the committee “investigator, prosecutor, judge and jury” and claimed that it was “manifestly unfair” the committee refused to publish evidence on which his defence relies on.

Break for vote in Commons

14:27 , Liam James

The Privileges Committee has paused for a break while MPs vote on Rishi Sunak’s new Brexit deal.

Boris Johnson earlier said he would vote against his successor’s aggreement with the EU, which hinges on new arrangements for Northern Ireland regulations.

The committee will reconvene in around 15 minutes.

Boris Johnson swears on bible ahead of Partygate evidence

14:22 , Liam James

Boris Johnson swore on a bible that he would tell the truth in the Privileges Committee hearing over whether he knowingly misled parliament.

No evidence I knew gatherings were illegal, says Boris Johnson

14:21 , Liam James

Boris Johnson called the Privileges Committee “investigator, prosecutor, judge and jury” and described their investigation as “manifestly unfair”.

“You found nothing to show that I was warned in advance that events in No 10 were illegal,” he said.

‘Hand on heart I did not lie to the house'

14:17 , Liam James

Boris Johnson tells the committee “hand on heart I did not lie to the house” as he begins his defence.

The former prime minister earlier claimed there was no evidence he intentionally misled MPs.

Harriet Harman sets out scope of Partygate inquiry

14:14 , Liam James

Harriet Harman set out the scope of the committee's work.

She said the panel is looking at whether Boris Johnson's statements were accurate, how "quickly and comprehensively" any misleading statements he made were corrected.

The question is whether any errors were rectified in "good time", she says.

Specifically, the panel seeks to find:

• What rules and guidance were in place at the time of parties.

• Mr Johnson's knowledge of the rules and guidance.

• Mr Johnson’s attendance at or knowledge of parties for which fines were issued.

Sue Gray not a witness to Partygate committee

14:11 , Liam James

Ms Harman said her committee was “not relying … and nor will we” rely on the Sue Gray evidence, as she said her committee had collected its own evidence.

Sue Gray last year compiled a report on the the nature and purpose of the lockdown gatherings in Downing Street, including who went to them and whether rules were broken.

MPs warned not to interfere with Partygate committee

14:09 , Liam James

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has warned MPs not to interfere or intimidate the Privileges Committee as it considers whether Boris Johnson lied to Parliament.

His warning came as senior Tory Jacob Rees-Mogg labelled the position of the committee’s chairwoman “absurd” and suggested the process was worse than a kangaroo court.

In a message to MPs, the Speaker said: “A very dim view will be taken of any Member who tries to prevent the Committee from carrying out this serious work, or of anyone from outside the House who interferes.”

The email, reported by the Independent, said: “The Committee must be allowed to complete its work without interference, both in relation to the evidence it is taking today and during the time before its report is published.

“I would like to remind you that interference with or intimidation of a committee is potentially a contempt of the House and restraint is appropriate while the committee’s work continues.”

Democracy needs trust, says Harman

14:07 , Liam James

In her opening statement, the chair of the committee Harriet Harman said that without trust in what ministers say “our entire parliamentary democracy is undermined”.

Jacob Rees-Mogg watches Boris Johnson at Partygate committee

14:05 , Liam James

Former cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg is sitting in on the Privileges Committee, joining fellow Tory backbencher Michael Fabricant for Boris Johnson‘s hearing.

Boris Johnson appears before Partygate committee

14:03 , Liam James

Boris Johnson has taken his seat before the committee of MPs investigating whether he knowingly misled parliament over parties in Downing Street during the pandemic.

The Privilege Committee of seven MPs, three Conservatives, three Labour members and an SNP member, has been investigating the background of the former prime minister's statements to parliament since last year.

Mr Johnson said there is no evidence that he was intentionally misleading, and said any comments were made in "good faith".

The hearing is expected to last as long as four hours. If the committee finds Mr Johnson lied, they will then decide his punishment; which could be his suspension as MP.

Rishi Sunak ‘won’t watch' Partygate hearing

13:48 , Liam James

Rishi Sunak is not planning on watching Boris Johnson’s grilling by the Privileges Committee.

The prime minister’s official spokesman said: “He has a busy afternoon. He is welcoming members of the victorious England men’s ICC T20 Cricket World Cup team to Downing Street this afternoon. He will be focused on helping aspiring cricketers.”

Neither has Mr Sunak read Mr Johnson’s defence dossier which suggests the prime minister may be bewildered why he was fined over partygate.

Mr Sunak’s press secretary said: “I don’t believe he has had time to go through what is quite a lengthy dossier.”

The Boris Johnson circus is back in town – he is about to remind us why he can never be trusted again

13:26 , Liam James

Sean O’Grady expects quite the show this afternoon:

I’m still deciding which treats will best accompany Boris Johnson’s appearance before the House of Commons Committee of Privileges. Seeing as he took the biscuit so many times in lockdown, and spent so long cheekily getting away with it, maybe a pack of Jammie Dodgers.

An enormous cake also seems appropriate as we observe the high protest of cakeism in a last-ditch defence of the doctrine that defines his approach to policy choices (and indeed life itself). And, of course, a nice bacon sandwich as we watch the infamous greased piglet of Westminster finally meet his fate.

Opinion: Johnson brings back the circus – reminding us why he can never be trusted

‘He probably doesn’t need me to tell him'

12:54 , Matt Mathers

Sunak says he respects the police’s decision to issue him with a fine for breaching Covid rules and that he apologised.

He says that a Civil Service report concluded he had no prior knowledge of the gathering.

PM adds “he probably doesn’t need me to tell him that because he’s probably spoken to the report’s author more than I have.”

Mr Sunak finishes up by listing what he says is government’s progress on tackling priorities on inflation and energy bills.

He also says the government is tackling NHS waiting lists and has a plan to “stop the boats”.

They’ve never had it so good?

12:48 , Matt Mathers

Starmer rounds up his questions by accusing the government of failing on crime, the NHS and cost of living squeeze.

He says it’s the same thing from Sunak every week: refusing to take responsibility.

Why does he continue to tell the British people “they’ve never had it so good?” he concludes.

‘I’ve prosecuted countless rapists'

12:45 , Matt Mathers

After Sunak accuses Labour of being “soft on crime”, Starmer hits back saying the only criminal investigation the PM has been involved in is the one “that found him guilty of breaking the law”.

Starmer adds he prosecuted “countless rapists” when he was director of the CPS.

He adds he wants tougher sentences from criminals after Sunak said Labour voted against them.

‘A lot further away than north London'

12:41 , Matt Mathers

Starmer adds Conservative MPs should be “ashamed of that record”.

He says the PM should stop “boasting” and “blaming others” and tell the country when he will get theft and burglary charges “back to where they were before they wrecked policing”.

Sunak hits back saying North Yorkshire is a “lot further away than north London.”

PM says crime is down 50 per cent since the Conservatives have been in power.

‘4 per cent of cases'

12:37 , Matt Mathers

Starmer says the PM stands there and “pretends everything is fine”, adding: “He’s out of touch”.

Labour leader adds Sunak should “get out of Westminster, get out of Kensington - and I don’t mean to Malibu - to the streets of Britain and go there and tell people it’s all fine...and see what reaction he gets”.

Labour leader says the answer Sunak didn’t give on crime in the previous reply was “4 per cent of cases”.

Goverment on course to meet targets on rape cases - Starmer

12:33 , Matt Mathers

Sunak dodges the specific question and says neighbourhood crime is down by 25 per cent.

Will Starmer tell him the answer in his reply?

PM adds the government is on course to meet its targets of doubling the number of rape cases “reaching the courts”.

He says there was a 65 per cent increase in rape convictions last year.

‘Crime is out of control'

12:29 , Matt Mathers

Starmer responds saying that “people are fed up” with a government that never takes responsibility for the problems facing the country.

He says that after 13 years of Tory rule, “crime is out of control and people are paying the price”.

He cites the case of a woman who was beaten with a baseball bat but no one had been brought to justice three years after the attack.

Starmer adds this was “not an unusual case” and asks the PM if he will tell the Commons the charge rate for theft and burglary.

‘Dysfunctional'

12:24 , Matt Mathers

Starmer goes on to note police forces’- and the Met’s - poor record on rape cases. He says that on “his watch” rape charges are at 1.6 per cent.

Sunak responds by saying that primary responsibility for the Met lies with the London mayor, Sadiq Khan.

He adds that Casey described the relationship between the Met and mayor as “dysfunctional”.

PM asks Starmer if he will take up these matters with the mayor

‘Sheer negligence'

12:20 , Matt Mathers

Starmer says what the PM referred to wasn’t mandatory.

“How can it be possible to have different standards for recruitment in different police forces?” he asks.

Labour leader highlights a part of the Casey report which said the government had taken a “hands off” approach to policing over the past 13 years.

“Let’s call it what it really is: sheer negligence”, he adds.

‘Already taking measures'

12:18 , Matt Mathers

Sunak responds by saying there is “no need” to back the plan because we are “already taking measures” to tackle issues raised in the report.

He says he met with police officials and Baroness Casey months ago and they agreed to implement a statutory code of practice for officer vetting.

PM adds that all forces are now checking their ranks for potential rapists and killers as well as those who have been accused of domestic violence.

‘Patchwork vetting systems'

12:14 , Matt Mathers

Starmer says he takes it from the PM’s answer that the government does accept findings of Casey report in full.

He criticises “patchwork vetting systems” that left the door open for officers like Wayne Couzens and David Carrick to join forces.

Labour leader add that the problems with policing extend beyond the Met to forces across the country.

He asks Sunak if the government will back a Labour plan for mandatory national vetting.

‘Appalled'

12:10 , Matt Mathers

After paying tribute to PC Palmer, who was murdered during a terror attack, Keir Starmer uses his first question to ask PM whether he accepts the findings of Baroness Louise Casey’s report into the Met Police.

Sunak also pays tribute to PC Palmer and says he was “appalled” to read the report, which included the Met was institutionally racist, sexist and homophobic.

He adds that some of the incidents noted in the review were unacceptable and shouldn’t have happened.

Sunak says that the government has already taken several steps to improve the force and will continue working with the London mayor to make further changes.

PMQs starts

12:02 , Matt Mathers

Rishi Sunak is now at the despatch box for PMQs.

We’ll be bringing you text updates throughout the session - you can also watch it live on our YouTube channel (below).

Stay tuned for all the action as it unfolds:

Live: Sunak faces Starmer in PMQs ahead of Boris Johnson Partygate inquiry

Have your say and take part in our poll below: Did Boris Johnson deliberately mislead parliament?

11:50 , Liam James

Sunak due in PMQs

11:47 , Liam James

Rishi Sunak will face PMQs at 12pm, hours before his renewed Brexit deal goes to a vote of MPs.

Yesterday, the European Research Group of Tory backbenchers announced they would not vote for the prime minister’s deal, calling new arrangements for Northern Ireland “useless”.

Mr Sunak’s predecessors, Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, have also said they will not vote for the deal.

Protesters outside parliament ahead of Partygate hearing

11:27 , Liam James

‘They’ll get bored’: No 10 thought Partygate would fizzle out

11:20 , Liam James

Officials in Downing Street thought journalists investigating the Partygate scandal would “get bored” in the face of a “robust” defence.

Messages between Jack Doyle, then-director of communications at No 10, and an unnamed official, reveal the thinking in Boris Johnson’s inner circle as the Daily Mirror prepared to break the first news of parties in Downing Street during lockdown on 30 November 2021.

Discussing how to respond to the paper, the unnamed official suggested what would eventually become the No 10 statement on the matter: “Covid rules have been followed at all times.”

In response Mr Doyle said: “Just be robust and they’ll get bored.”

Boris Johnson was warned against claiming Covid guidance was followed

10:50 , Liam James

It has emerged that Boris Johnson was warned by his principle private secretary Martin Reynolds against claiming that all Covid guidance had been followed at No 10 parties but went ahead and issued a denial.

An account to the committee ahead of its grilling shows Mr Reynolds questioned whether the suggestion was “realistic”. He said Mr Johnson agreed to delete the mention of guidance – before going on to make the denial at PMQs regardless.

Mr Reynolds said: “He did not welcome the interruption but told me that he had received reassurances that the comms event was within the rules,” the former adviser said.

“I accepted this but questioned whether it was realistic to argue that all guidance had been followed at all times, given the nature of the working environment in No 10. He agreed to delete the reference to guidance.”

But – on December 8 2021 – Mr Johnson choose to tell the Commons that “the guidance was followed and the rules were followed at all times”.

Boris Johnson leaves home as Partygate evidence published

10:37 , Liam James

Boris Johnson has been pictured leaving his London home after MPs published evidence from their investigation into whether he misled parliament.

The former prime minister is due to appear before the Privileges Committee at 2pm.

Comms chief says ‘highly unusual’ for him not to warn Boris Johnson over party

10:29 , Liam James

Boris Johnson’s former communications chief Lee Cain said it would have been “highly unusual” for him not to have raised concerns with the then-prime minister about a garden party in No 10 during the pandemic.

Mr Cain said he could not remember if he personally had a conversation with the prime minister about it, but stated that he told Mr Johnson’s senior aide Dominic Cummings about his concerns over the 20 May 2020 gathering.

In his evidence to the committee, Mr Johnson noted that Mr Cain told him he might have raised concerns but could not recall.

Mr Cain initially raised his doubts about the event in response to an email from the then prime minister’s principal private secretary Martin Reynolds inviting staff to the “socially distanced drinks”.

Mr Cain said he told Mr Cummings about his concerns who “agreed it should not take place and said he would raise the issue with Martin and the prime minister”.

Boris Johnson 'had chance to shut parties down but chose not to’

10:20 , Liam James

Boris Johnson had the opportunity to stop the lockdown partying in Downing Street, but allowed the culture to continue, according to a No 10 official.

The Privileges Committee evidence shows that the unnamed employee alleges the route Mr Johnson would take through Downing Street looked straight into the press room, so it would have been “impossible” not to know they were happening.

“He had the opportunity to shut them down but joined in, made speeches, had a drink with staff. He could have taken the issue up with Martin Reynolds, his principal private secretary, to shut them down. He could see what was happening and allowed the culture to continue,” the official said.

Comms adviser denies telling Boris Johnson guidance was followed

10:08 , Liam James

Jack Doyle, who was Boris Johnson’s communications chief when the partygate story broke, denied ever telling the then-prime minister that Covid-19 guidance was followed at all times in No 10.

In his evidence to the Privileges Committee, Mr Doyle was asked whether he assured the then-prime minister that Covid-19 rules were followed at all times.

He said: “As per my evidence to the Sue Gray report, in relation to the events I attended I said I believed no rules were broken.”

But asked whether he told Mr Johnson “Covid guidance” was followed at all times, Mr Doyle said: “No.” His answer was the same as that of Simon Case, then-cabinet secretary.

In Mr Johnson’s evidence to the committee, Mr Johnson said advisers assured him guidance was followed at all times.

Top civil servant says he never told Boris Johnson gatherings followed rules

09:59 , Liam James

Britain’s most senior civil servant has said he did not give Boris Johnson assurances that Covid rules were followed at all times in No 10 during lockdown.

Simon Case, the cabinet secretary, submitted written evidence to a committee due grill Mr Johnson later on whether he misled MPs over the Partygate scandal.

Matt Mathers brings you more detail on the cabinet secretary’s key claim:

Top civil servant says he never told Boris Johnson gatherings followed rules

I told Boris Johnson it was a drinks party, says Cummings

09:52 , Liam James

Boris Johnson’s ex-adviser Dominic Cummings said it was “comical” the former prime minister thought a garden party in Downing Street on 20 May 2020 was a work event.

In evidence to the Privileges Committee, Mr Cummings said Mr Johnson “certainly knew it was a drinks party because I told him”.

This event was the one former principal private secretary to Mr Johnson, Martin Reynolds, sent an email about, telling people to “bring your own booze!”

In the House of Commons, Mr Johnson apologised for attending the drinks party, but said he thought it was a “work event”.

Cabinet secretary never told Boris Johnson rules were followed

09:45 , Liam James

Simon Case, Mr Johnson’s cabinet secretary, saying he never told the prime minister that Covid rules were followed at parties in Downing Street during periods of lockdown.

The Privileges Committee’s evidence also showed Mr Case said he did not advise the then-prime minister that no parties were held in Downing Street during Covid restrictions and he did not know whether anyone else gave such assurances.

In a 52-page defence submitted to the committee, the former prime minister said he received assurances from advisers that rules were followed before he made the claim in the Commons.

No 10 official questioned ‘all guidance was followed’ line

09:30 , Liam James

An official questioned whether Boris Johnson could realistically claim all guidance was followed in Downing Street events during lockdown, evidence published by the Privileges Committee shows.

Martin Reynolds, principal private secretary to Boris Johnson from October 2019 to March 2022, said that he recalled asking Boris Johnson about the line proposed for PMQs on 7 December, suggesting that all rules and guidance had been followed.

Mr Reynolds said the former PM “did not welcome the interruption but told me that he had received reassurances that the comms event was within the rules”.

“I accepted this but questioned whether it was realistic to argue that all guidance had been followed at all times, given the nature of the working environment in Number 10.

“He agreed to delete the reference to guidance”.

BYOB party was ‘bad idea’, No 10 official warned

09:27 , Liam James

One No 10 official warned Boris Johnson’s former principal private secretary Martin Reynolds that the “bring your own booze” party in Downing Street was a “bad idea”.

According to the Privileges Committee’s supporting documents, the official said: “I saw the invite and I expressed my concern to Martin that I thought this was a bad idea. I declined the invitation.

“I heard that there were so many people who were unhappy about the party that they were not going to go.”

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

Click here to read the full blog on The Independent's website