“Partygate” report: Committee accuses Johnson of deliberate deception

British ex-PM Johnson knowingly lied about partying during the pandemic. That concludes a long-awaited investigative report recommending a temporary suspension. Johnson anticipated this by resigning.

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson knowingly misled MPs in the “Partygate” affair, according to a parliamentary inquiry. In which it was called a report, Johnson’s actions and statements before the Parliamentary Committee constituted a flagrant breach of the rules and warranted a 90-day suspension from the UK House of Commons. During this time, he was also not allowed to gain access to the parliamentary grounds.

Johnson says committee is ‘witch-hunting’

Johnson had previously received the results of the so-called “Privileges Committee” investigation into violations of lockdown rules during the corona pandemic. He anticipated the sanction last week by resigning his mandate. With the recommended duration of 90 days, the penalty would have been much harsher than previously assumed.

The former Conservative prime minister described the committee as a “kangaroo court” that was on a witch hunt to evict him from the House of Commons. The result of the investigation was politically motivated in order to get rid of him. A majority of the seven committee members belong to his Conservative Party.

parties in government building during pandemic

Johnson has been accused of breaching UK lockdown rules during his tenure as Prime Minister during the coronavirus pandemic and later lying to Parliament about it.

After reports of parties at government buildings emerged in December 2021, Johnson repeatedly assured MPs that he and his staff had always followed the Corona rules. That turned out to be wrong, as Johnson acknowledged. But he honestly believed that at the time, he protested.

He told the committee he believed the five events he attended – including a farewell to an employee and his own surprise birthday party – were “legitimate work events” designed to boost morale in the cause to strengthen employees overworked by the pandemic.

“Obvious that the meetings were violations”

In an interim report in March, the committee said the evidence strongly suggested it was obvious to Johnson that the meetings at his Downing Street offices in 2020 and 2021 broke lockdown rules. Police fined Johnson and others at the celebrations. Johnson said his advisors had assured him that the corona rules had not been violated. High-ranking employees disputed these statements.

Johnson resigned as prime minister last year after numerous scandals. However, he retained his seat in the House of Commons. After his resignation, the former head of government can run again for a seat in the lower house.