Did Boris Johnson intentionally mislead parliament about what he knew – and when – about the rule-breaking events in Number 10? The Privilege Committee considers it “very likely” he did.
Wednesday appear before the privileged committee has been considered the day of reckoning by the former prime minister, with all the dangers it brings. Instead, after months of evidence gathering and eyewitness testimony, there was no such thing as a smoking gun.
That’s not to say it wasn’t unpleasant, awkward and sometimes very brief as Mr Johnson went through more than three and a half hours of hostile cross-examination from a cross-section of MPs.
The former prime minister insists he did not knowingly or recklessly mislead parliament when he told MPs that guidance and rules were always followed in Number 10, not once but twice in December 2021.
The focus of his defense was on the argument that although guidance was sometimes broken, within the ring, officials managed to stick to the guidelines, even when social distancing was not “observed.” perfectly,” and he relied on his advice. officials.
But there have certainly been tough times when the prime minister has sometimes become irritated at cross-exams.
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Key moments from the portal investigation
Boris Johnson hearing – latest: Johnson offers ‘dedicated’ defense at heated session
Sir Bernard Jenkin, who questioned Mr Johnson about Lee Cain’s departure from Number 10, was told by the former leader that such a gathering was “necessary for business purposes”.
The senior Conservatives countered that the former prime minister was asked at his press podium whether “organizations can hold unusually distant farewell meetings in the workplace” – he was asked what he would say.
Mr. Johnson stammered something about how they had to decide how they were going to implement the instructions: Even the non-skeptic might say that answer is implausible.
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Highlights of Boris Johnson’s Evidence
How about “BYOB” – Bring Your Own Booze – Number 10 garden party in May 2020? Again, Mr Johnson is adamant this is a work event to thank staff (many of whom have been fined). Why then was Lee Cain, his then communications director, so interested in “optics, not rules”?
“I think he was worried about the impression people might get if they were looking through the garden wall, if they came in from the media room and thought we were doing something other people weren’t allowed to do,” he said. Johnson said.
“I can understand why people might feel that way. But as I told the House when I came to report on that incident, I still believe it within the framework of the guidelines and the rules.”
It may not pass the “suddenly through the wall” test, but in Mr Johnson’s version of life at Number 10, social distancing farewell meetings are allowed in the workplace – a memorandum that the rest of the country did not receive.
These examples show the skepticism of MPs when questioning the former prime minister about what they say are blatant violations of what he has witnessed with his own eyes – and the unwavering insistence of the former prime minister. Mr. Johnson that everything he has his eye on is within the rules.
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Boris’ testimony ‘uncomfortable’
And the things he doesn’t see? Well, he relied on key employees to advise him whether events were within the rules.
On this, the former leader appeared somewhat confused, with evidence from three of his closest advisers – the then director of communications, his cabinet secretary and his chief personal secretary – saying that they did not guarantee the quality of the job. Ensure that all instructions and rules are followed. time.
And above that, the question that stands out is why the former prime minister didn’t come to the Commons to fix the record sooner. His response appeared to be that, during the round, he thought the instructions had been followed where possible – and even when chairman Harriet Harman asked if he wanted to correct the record and conceded that instructions were not always followed, he still refused to budge.
“My view remains that social distancing guidelines are not practiced with the rigid precision of a rehearsal sergeant, especially in difficult circumstances, such as those where we operating, as long as you have mitigation measures in place.”
There were no smoking guns, and both sides held guns.
At one point during the hearing, Tory committee member Sir Bernard Jenkin said: “I don’t think we agree with your interpretation of the instructions.”
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Social distance ‘imperfectly observed’
Read more:
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Ms Harman expressed doubt that the former Prime Minister was relying on staff assurances about the rules, as he had witnessed the events first-hand.
“I mean, if I’m going 100 mph and I see the speedometer reading 100 mph, it’s a bit odd, isn’t it, if I say, someone assures me I’m not? “
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Then the questions: Was Mr. Johnson diligent enough to seek reassurance? Does he correct records when he discovers that rules and guidelines are not being followed? Or did he purposely mislead parliament?
The committee must now consider what to do next and we cannot know for weeks whether Mr Johnson will come under criticism.
At worst he could be suspended for at least 10 days, which would allow voters in his Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency to organize a “recall petition” and seek to trigger a by-election – a nuclear option that will cause real controversy for the bench Conservatives.
Not only does Mr Johnson want to leave the whole unfortunate incident behind – but so does the current prime minister. What remains unclear is whether parliament will authorize them.
