Did an MP on the Privileges Committee break lockdown rules?

The Privileges Committee are all set to deliver their report into whether Boris Johnson lied to parliament – but there’s a sudden, last-minute twist in the tale. Guido Fawkes – that enduring sore on the national body politic – has revealed tonight that Bernard Jenkin, a member of the panel, attended a lockdown-breaking bash for his wife during the pandemic. It’s prompted Johnson to demand his resignation from the committee, hours before it’s set to deliver a judgement on him.

Sir Bernard has denied attending ‘any drinks parties during lockdown’ – including an event hosted by Deputy Speaker Eleanor Laing in December 2020. Yet now Nadine Dorries (who else?) has written to the committee clerk, prompting an investigation by Chair Harriet Harman. Dame Eleanor told Guido that she held a ‘business meeting’ on that evening, where ‘I was so strict with my 2 metre ruler and told everyone we will adhere to those rules and be very careful.’