Boris Johnson on Trial at Committee

Boris Johnson faces Partygate grilling after new evidence revealed.

2:20pm The division bell rings.

Johnson swears the oath on Bible.

He’s just been made to watch a video compilation right now of him repeatedly saying in the House of Commons that rules were followed

2pm Harriet Harman starts the proceedings.

The Committee of Privileges is appointed to consider specific matters relating to privileges referred to it by the House. The scope of any inquiry comprises all matters relevant to the matter referred.

Matter referred on 21 April 2022: conduct of Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP

On Wednesday 22 March, Mr Johnson has accepted the Committee’s invitation to provide oral evidence in a public session. The Committee comprises four Conservative, two Labour, and one SNP Member, who will question Mr Johnson on various matters arising from evidence submitted to its current inquiry. This inquiry is based on a report published on 3 March, and the Committee has provided Mr Johnson with a summary at his request.

In addition to the oral evidence session, the Committee has also invited Mr Johnson to provide written evidence to the inquiry before the session. If he chooses to respond, his written evidence will be published. The Committee has shared all evidence submitted to the inquiry with Mr Johnson under secure conditions.

The inquiry is part of the Committee’s investigation into Mr Johnson’s conduct, as instructed by the House of Commons. The Committee requested written evidence from the Government in July 2022, which was received in heavily redacted form in August. The Government provided unredacted material in November, which the Committee analyzed. In January, the Committee wrote to 23 individuals, requesting specific information to be supplied with a statement of truth. After reviewing the responses, the Committee has