Boris Johnson to face investigation into whether he misled MPs over Downing Street parties

Boris Johnson will face a parliamentary investigation into whether he misled MPs about parties at Downing Street during the 2020 lockdowns.

MPs have backed Labour’s motion calling for the Prime Minister to be investigated by the privileges committee on whether he misled MPs when he denied lockdown rules were broken in Downing Street.

The motion was passed today in the Commons without any opposition from government benches.

It is not yet known when the investigation will begin, though the motion specifically said the investigation should start after the publication of the Sue Gray report.

That report will not be published until the Metropolitan Police has finished its investigation and issued fixed penalty notices.

The Prime Minister is currently away on a two-day official visit to India, so was not in presence at the debate today.

The motion was tabled by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer yesterday, who offered examples of the Prime Minister misleading MPs with his comments about the parties held at Number 10.

The proposal cited four specific instances from PMQs in December last year where Johnson’s comments have been proven to not be accurate.

The examples outlined in Starmer’s motion are as follows:

• December 1st 2021: ‘All guidance was followed in No. 10’.
• December 8th 2021: ‘I have been repeatedly assured since these allegations emerged that there was no party and that no Covid rules were broken’.
• December 8th 2021: ‘I am sickened myself and furious about that, but I repeat what I have said to him; I have been repeatedly assured that the rules were not broken’.
• December 8th 2021: ‘The guidance was followed and the rules were followed at all times’.

Starmer said he hoped the vote would restore ‘decency, honesty and integrity into our politics’ as the Met Police continue to investigate Downing Street officials for attending parties and gatherings during the 2020 lockdowns. 

The Labour leader’s spokesperson also warned there will be a ‘price’ for Conservative MPs who attempt to block a probe into Johnson’s alleged lies.