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a New cache of documents Eyewitness statements, WhatsApp messages, and emails have been released containing the latest details about what Boris Johnson knew about Partygate. The data release shows how the Privileges Committee frames their questions and reveals more insight into how No10 staff viewed the prime minister’s actions during that period. increase.
Here are 8 things we learned from the stack of evidence that preceded the ex-Prime Minister’s evidence to the Commission of Privileges.
No10 official believes Johnson could have ‘shutdown’ party but didn’t
In written evidence to the commission, an unnamed Downing Street official said the prime minister at the time would have seen many parties taking place in the building and could have stopped it if he wanted. On February 7 this year, officials said Mr Johnson had been invited by a special adviser to “observe and attend these gatherings” or “walk to his apartment”. Sometimes I found them,” he wrote. It’s a room and a vestibule, so it’s impossible not to see. ”
The official added: He could have taken the matter up with his chief private secretary, Martin Reynolds, to shut them down. He saw what was happening and allowed the culture to continue. ”
In written evidence to the committee released on Tuesday, Mr Johnson said he believed such gatherings were within the covid rules at the time.
Privileges committee believes Johnson was well aware of coronavirus rules and guidance
A stack of evidence prepared by the Commission falls into each of the No10 parties investigated by Sue Gray’s investigation into Partygate. For each, the committee sets out what Mr Johnson said about the covid rules and guidance in force at the time, on public broadcasts and in the Commons. The committee’s obvious counterargument is that Mr Johnson should not have resorted to this advice, although he was assured by staff that the assembly was within the rules. There were rules. This gives us some insight into how his four-hour committee hearing on Wednesday will go.
Martin Reynolds said he would raise concerns about Downing Street garden party with Johnson
One of the most controversial events at Partygate was the Bring Your Own Liquor event held on May 20, 2020 at Downing Street Gardens. Unless the gathering is “work essential”. Although not legally enforceable, the guidance that remains at the heart of the government’s public health message says people in the workplace should maintain a two-meter social distance. Martin Reynolds sent a controversial “BYOB” email to over 200 people working for No10 and other departments. In response to Gray’s question, Lee Kane, then head of public affairs for Party No. 10, said the tone of the email was “obviously social and violates COVID-19 guidance,” adding that Leino “I was going to talk to the prime minister, but I was sure he was going to be okay,” Kane said, according to Reynolds. Mr Johnson’s senior adviser at the time, Dominic Cummings, also warned the prime minister about the party, and the two “discussed multiple staffing issues”.
In a January 2022 interview with Sky News, Johnson claimed that “no one told me” that the garden party was “against the rules,” but in hindsight, he said, “I’d like to go back indoors.” These comments are to the media, not to the House of Representatives, so he can’t be accused of misleading Congress.
Johnson told Sue Gray’s inquiry: I thought it was wrong to stop people from entering the garden. It’s democratic and encourages staff well-being – where can we draw the line? Drinking wine with moderate alcohol consumption was fine when we were in the garden or at a meeting. As far as I understand it certainly doesn’t violate any rules. ”
His own stack of evidence suggests Mr Johnson will rely on evidence from No 10 officials who say they don’t remember being warned.
No10 official thought garden parties were ‘crazy’
Nevertheless, it is clear from new documents that a) the garden party was well planned and b) some staff members had serious concerns about it.
An email from a No 10 official to the government’s internal event management team was revealed, telling them, “Can I have a few tables to host these drinks in the garden on Wednesday evening around 5-7pm? Huh? It’s for a private office and anyone who’s home that day’. ?”
Cummings said in testimony to the committee in January that a “BYOB party” was “clearly not an example of a reasonable deviation from the rules, in my opinion. The Prime Minister had no such excuse.” Cummings responded to Gray’s inquiry by saying, “A table covered with bottles of drink “I thought it was crazy,” an unnamed No10 official told the committee in January. rice field.
Simon Case never gave Mr Johnson assurances that the gathering was within the rules
Chief Cabinet Secretary Simon Case’s views on Partygate have remained largely undisclosed until now. He was initially in charge of a Cabinet Office investigation into the matter in December 2021, but in January 2022, after allegations surfaced that he hosted a drinking party of his own at the Cabinet Office. Replaced by Mr. Gray.
In testimony to the Privileges Committee last month, Case denied he had given Johnson assurances that coronavirus rules and guidance would always be followed at No10. He also denied that he ever assured Johnson that no party was held at No10 during the coronavirus restrictions.
As the government’s most senior official, his testimony to the Commission is crucial as it examines the core issue of advice given to the former Prime Minister about the Downing Street rally.
But in his own testimony to the commission, Jack Doyle, who was No10 communications director in December 2021, said he told the then-Prime Minister that the rules had not been broken. .
Mr Doyle said: By contrast, it was my belief when I advised the Prime Minister that the Covid-19 rules regarding informal gatherings had not been broken. ”
Committee likely to focus on what Johnson told Commons about ‘guidance’ being followed at all times
As made clear in a written statement submitted by Johnson himself to the committee on Tuesday, Reynolds expressed his concerns to the then-Prime Minister ahead of PMQ on December 8, 2021, saying that guidance, not rules, would be required. is always followed. Johnson agreed to remove the reference to his guidance because he used the term in his PMQ a week ago. Johnson stuck to this line when questioned by Kiel Sturmer, but when asked by Labor MP Katherine West about the so-called Abba party at her Downing Street apartment on 13 November 2020, I looked off guard when I did. No matter what happened, I’m sure the guidance was followed and the rules were always followed. ”
Johnson’s response to this is likely to be that he sincerely believed what he said was right when he addressed the House of Representatives in December 2021.
Mysteries still surround the Abba Party
The Nov. 13, 2020 Abba Party (allegedly hosted by Carrie Johnson) is the dog that didn’t bark in all Partygate investigations. Ms Gray reports that the Metropolitan Police did not fine the participants, so she stopped investigating the rally.As I Revealed in January, the Commission on Privileges asked the Cabinet Office for details of the event’s guest list, including entry logs to No10 for the night in question. Commissioner Harriet Harman wrote to Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley last month asking for clarification on whether anyone who attended was fined. Scotland Yard responded that it would pay fines related to the eviction.
Johnson’s spin doctor thought the media would be ‘tired’ of the story
In a WhatsApp between Mr. Doyle and an unnamed No10 official on Nov. 30, 2021, the Daily Mirror broke the story of Partygate, the first time Downing Street had attempted to respond to the unfolding scandal. clarified the discussion of The journalist Pippa Kreller, who spread the story, sent an email to his No10 press office a year ago asking about the many parties held at No10. Doyle wrote to No10 executives: I’m not sure what you mean by flat. Officials respond that they should put out “general lines” such as “Covid rules are always being followed.” Four hours later, former journalist Doyle added: