Boris Johnson seen for first time since Partygate defence dossier published
Boris Johnson accepts that he misled Parliament but said there was “no evidence” he did so intentionally, insisting his statements to the Commons regarding the Partygate scandal were in “good faith”.
The committee investigating whether Mr Johnson knowingly misled parliament has published the ex-prime minister’s 52-page defence.
In his legal argument, Mr Johnson insisted he was not warned that gatherings in Downing Street during the pandemic broke lockdown rules. He said that after learning they had, he corrected the record at the “earliest opportunity”.
“So I accept that the House of Commons was misled by my statements that the rules and guidance had been followed completely at No 10,” he wrote.
“But when the statements were made, they were made in good faith and on the basis of what I honestly knew and believed at the time.
He said he “did not intentionally or recklessly mislead the House” and would “never have dreamed of doing so”.
Mr Johnson submitted his dossier of evidence to the privileges committee yesterday, while facing claims of bullying and intimidation as allies tried to discredit the probe.
