Top aide questioned Boris Johnson's plan to say 'all COVID guidance was followed' over partygate
The privileges committee has published a "core bundle" of documents ahead of Boris Johnson's appearance later today on whether he lied to MPs over partygate.
Wednesday 22 March 2023 15:41, UK
Boris Johnson was warned against claiming that all COVID guidance had been followed at Downing Street lockdown gatherings but still issued a denial, according to new evidence published by MPs investigating whether he lied over partygate.
In written evidence from Martin Reynolds, the former principal private secretary to the then prime minister, he said he questioned whether it was "realistic" to make this claim, given the nature of the working environment in Number 10.
He said he asked Mr Johnson about the line proposed for PMQs on 7 December, adding: "He 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."
Politics live: More evidence published ahead of Johnson questioning
Mr Reynolds said Mr Johnson agreed to delete the reference to the guidance.
However, the then prime minister went on to tell the Commons the following day that "the guidance was followed and the rules were followed at all times".
The evidence has been published ahead of Mr Johnson being questioned by the privileges committee this afternoon on whether he knowingly misled parliament over partygate denials.
The former PM has accepted he did mislead the House but said in a written defence published yesterday that his claims were made in "good faith" - and he was relying on the incorrect advice of his advisers.
However, evidence from senior Number 10 officials appears to dispute this.
In another section of the bundle published this morning, Mr Johnson's communications chief at the time the partygate story broke denied ever telling him that COVID guidance was followed at all times.
In an interview with the Cabinet Office investigations team, Jack Doyle said it was "difficult to say" if social distancing was followed completely.
He said that "in relation to the events I attended I said I believed no rules were broken".
Pressed whether he had ever told Mr Johnson "COVID guidance" was always followed in Downing Street, Mr Doyle said: "No."
Cabinet Secretary Simon Case also said he did not give the PM these assurances and was not aware of anyone who did.
Johnson 'had opportunity to shut partygate gatherings down'
The evidence also contained a statement from a Number 10 official who said Mr Johnson "had the opportunity" to shut the partygate gatherings down, but chose to join them instead.
The official, who has not been named in the documents, states the former prime minister was "either invited" to the events by special advisers, or "spotted them whilst walking up to his flat".
The statement notes that the route Mr Johnson would take included walking down a corridor and looking "straight into the press room and vestibule" - both places where parties were held.
"He had the opportunity to shut them down, but joined in, made speeches, had a drink with staff," the official's statement continues.
"He could see what was happening and allowed the culture to continue."
'Comical PM thought May garden party was work event'
Dominic Cummings, the PM's former top aide, also gave evidence saying it was "comical" Mr Johnson thought the garden party on 20 May 2020 was a work event.
He said Mr Johnson "certainly knew it was a drinks party because I told him".
This event was the one Mr Reynolds sent an email around to people advising them to "bring your own booze!"
Lee Cain, the communications chief at the time of the event, said it was "clear" that this was "purely a social function" and "in breach of COVID guidance".
His evidence said he could not remember if he personally had a conversation with the former PM about it, but stated that 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".
Read More:
Six things we learned from evidence published by privileges committee
Watch coverage of Boris Johnson giving evidence to Privileges Committee on partygate live on Sky News from 2pm.
Mr Reynolds expressed regret at the invite in his evidence, stressing "the language used was totally inappropriate and gave a misleading impression of the nature of the event".
"It was an event held because staff needed a morale boost after an extremely difficult period when all sorts of tensions had begun to surface and I hoped that being thanked by the PM and talking to each other might strengthen their sense of being part of one team," he said.
"The event was not a party in any normal sense of the word."
Ahead of the publication of the documents, a source close to the former prime minister said his team believe they are generally helpful to them.
But they have criticised the fact that not all of the evidence Mr Johnson wanted published has gone into the bundle.
All seven committee members, led by Labour veteran Harriet Harman but with a Tory majority, will use Mr Johnson's appearance to determine if he deliberately misled the Commons when he told MPs no COVID rules or guidance had been broken.
On the eve of his appearance, the former prime minister repeated his denial that he had not done anything wrong and said he was looking forward to the hearing.