Partygate committee live
Workplace gathering was necessary, Johnson insists
Ione Wells – BBC Political correspondent
Boris Johnson is being pretty defiant. He’s arguing that a leaving do he was photographed at – which shows a lack of social distancing – “had to happen” and was “necessary” because two senior members of staff had left in acrimonious circumstances and he needed to give reassurance, and it was “essential” for work purposes.
He seems to be hammering this point about “necessity” as one of his key defences – the question will be whether that washes with the committee, who will be aware other key workers who still had to go to physical workplaces did not consider in-person leaving dos “necessary”.
Remember though, the committee is not reopening the inquiry into whether these events were in the rules or not. They’re trying to work out if he should have known they were not — and told Parliament as much.
First gathering – back and forth over guidance
There’s some back and forth between BoJo and Jenkin over the issue of guidance.
An image of Boris in the Commons at one of these gatherings where rules seemingly were broken is shown on a large screen.
Jenkin then reads out the exact guidance from the Covid rules at the time, particularly the need for risk mitigations when distancing wasn’t possible, such as screens or barriers.
He asks Johnson to point out where in the picture were there screens or barriers.
Johnson is adamant this was an impromptu gathering to thank staff for their contribution during Covid.
“I accept that perfect social distancing, Sir Bernard, is not being observed” – but goes on to say that was “not incompatible with the guidance”.
Jenkin read BoJo’s public statements about following rules
Tory Bernard Jenkin has kicked off questions, noting statements from the former PM which make clear his understanding of how important it is to follow the rules.
Jenkin says “so there can be no doubt that you knew what the guidance and rules meant?”, to which Johnson replies “yes”.
Showing Johnson a picture of him at an event where he is a small room, holding a drink and appearing to offer a cheers to the room.
Asked if he accepts if people were not making an effort to socially distance from each other in the picture, Johnson says he doesn’t accept this.
“At all stages the guidance was meant to be implemented where possible, that is absolutely clear from the guidance”, he adds.
Johnson says the “confines of No 10” – given how small the building and rooms within it are – made social distancing impossible much of the time.
On why a leaving party was necessary, Johnson says it was important to be there and give reassurances to staff after the acrimonious departure of other people.
“I believe that the guidance is being complied with,” he says, pressed by Jenkin who suggests he wasn’t answering the question.
The committee is now asking its questions.
The first comes from veteran Conservative Bernard Jenkin – one of four Tories on the committee.
Sorry for ‘inadvertently misleading’ House
He apologises for “inadvertently misleading this House” but to say he did it recklessly “is completely untrue”.
He also says the officials at Number 10 “should be immensely proud of their efforts to protect this country from a loathsome disease”.
“I am proud to have known and worked with those officials during one of the most difficult times we can remember,” he says.
“I am proud to have given them leadership and that is what I believe.”
The former PM says COVID “almost killed him” and he took the measures to stop the virus spreading “seriously”.
He also says “at all times” he was “entirely transparent” with the House.
“I made it clear that I did not intend to comment on any of the factual matters until the investigation had been concluded,” he continues.
“I kept the House regularly updated and as soon as the investigations were complete, I provided a full correction of my honest but inadvertently misleading statements. I apologise.”
He also says he trusts that the committee will be fair to officials who worked with him at the time.
“Fair to me, fair to the evidence about what we and I knew and believed and conclude I did not wittingly mislead the House of Commons or recklessly mislead House of Commons and that no contempt has been committed,” he adds.
Police agreed I didn’t break any rules
Boris tells the committee that even the police agreed that his attendance at the “farewell gatherings” at Downing Street did not go against the rules.
“I obviously did not know at the time that any of these events later escalated beyond what was lawful after I left.”
“There is, of course, one event for which I and the prime minister [Rishi Sunk] received fixed penalty notices, but it never occurred to me or I think the current prime minister at the time that the event was not in compliance with the rules and the guidance.”
