3 What Mr Johnson was told by others, and what he told the House
118. In the previous section of our report we considered Mr Johnson’s knowledge of the Rules and Guidance relating to Covid that were in force at the time of the six gatherings we are focussing upon, and the extent of his direct personal knowledge of those gatherings. In this section of our report we consider what Mr Johnson was subsequently told by other people about compliance at No. 10 with the Covid Rules and Guidance, in advance of his assertions to the House about compliance.
Mr Johnson’s statements to the House
119. On the afternoon of 30 November 2021, the Daily Mirror contacted No. 10 to say that they were planning to publish an article alleging that events had taken place in Downing Street in November and December 2020 which had broken Covid Rules. It specifically alluded to the gatherings of 27 November 2020 and 18 December 2020 (which we examine in paragraphs 67 to 74 and 75 to 83 above), among others. The article appeared online later that day, and was the paper’s front-page lead the following day, 1 December, with the headline: “Boris Party Broke Covid Rules”.[1]
120. At Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) on 1 December Mr Johnson was asked by the Leader of the Opposition whether a Christmas party had been held for dozens of people in No. 10 on 18 December 2020, and he told the House that “all guidance was followed completely in No. 10”.[2] The Leader of the Opposition followed up his initial question about this gathering with further ones, but Mr Johnson avoided directly answering them. During the week that followed, allegations of gatherings in No. 10 continued to have a high political and media profile.
121. The next Prime Minister’s Questions was on 8 December 2021. The previous evening ITV had published a video of a mock press conference filmed on 22 December 2020 where then-Press Secretary Allegra Stratton was asked about the gathering of 18 December 2020, and appeared embarrassed.[3] At PMQs, before he was asked any specific questions, Mr Johnson stated:
I understand and share the anger up and down the country at seeing No. 10 staff seeming to make light of lockdown measures. I can understand how infuriating it must be to think that the people who have been setting the Rules have not been following the Rules, because I was also furious to see that clip. I apologise unreservedly for the offence that it has caused up and down the country.[4]
- ↑ Core evidence bundle materials, p58
- ↑ HC Deb, 1 December 2021, Vol 704 col 909
- ↑ ITV, Downing Street staff shown joking in leaked recording about Christmas party they later denied, 10 December 2021 (first published 7 December 2021)
- ↑ HC Deb, 8 December 2021, Vol 705 col 372
