Four things we learnt from the Boris Partygate probe

Today the privileges committee has published its initial report into whether Boris Johnson lied to the House of Commons about Partygate. This inquiry does not look at whether gatherings in lockdown happened or not – we know they did. Rather, it is going to investigate whether Johnson was aware such gatherings were taking place and, if he did, whether he ‘knowingly’ lied to the House of Commons when he told MPs that ‘the rules were followed at all times’. It also focuses on why the then prime minister did not correct the record at the earliest opportunity when it became clear that the Covid rules had not been followed at all times. Below is a summary of the top lines from the 24-page report and Johnson’s bullish response, ahead of his evidence session later this month.

Johnson would have seen ‘obvious’ breaches of Covid rules

The report by the privileges committee strongly suggests that breaches of coronavirus rules would have been ‘obvious’ to Johnson.