The former Prime Minister left in limbo: Boris Johnson might not appear before MPs investigating him over Partygate until after Easter – nearly a YEAR after they began a probe into lockdown gatherings
- Former PM has still not been contacted by the Commons privileges committee
- He has not been asked to provide written evidence, unlike other witnesses
Boris Johnson may not appear before the MPs investigating him over Partygate before Easter, nearly a year after they launched their probe.
The former prime minister has still not been contacted by the Commons privileges committee – even though it began its inquiry more than nine months ago.
He has not been asked to provide written evidence, unlike other witnesses working in Downing Street at the time of the lockdown-breaking gatherings, nor has he been sent their submissions for his legal team to study.
And Mr Johnson has not been given any indication of when he will be asked to appear in front of the committee to answer questions about whether he misled the Commons when he insisted all Covid guidance had been followed.
Pictured: Boris Johnson and wife Carrie (file photo). The former prime minister has still not been contacted by the Commons privileges committee – even though it began its inquiry more than nine months ago
Handout photo issued by the Cabinet Office showing Boris Johnson at a gathering in the Cabinet Room in 10 Downing Street on his birthday, which was released with the publication of Sue’s Gray report into Downing Street parties in Whitehall during the coronavirus lockdown
The MPs are still studying the statements they have received from officials who were in No 10 at the height of the pandemic, with the deadline for written evidence having passed last Tuesday. The MPs may yet request further details from them.
They have also been sent a dossier of evidence from Downing Street including Mr Johnson’s official diaries and briefing notes. With the Commons now in recess for a week and invitations yet to be sent for oral evidence sessions, and a fortnight’s break for Easter beginning just a month after that, the highly-anticipated televised hearing featuring Mr Johnson is increasingly unlikely to take place before the first anniversary of the probe on April 21. It is understood Mr Johnson has been told he will not be required to give evidence before May at the earliest. However, parliamentary sources last night disputed this.
That means the committee’s final ruling on whether or not he committed a contempt of Parliament – with the whole House of Commons then required to vote on any punishment recommended – will not be made until much later this year.
By contrast, the Cabinet Office inquiry by Sue Gray into Partygate was published less than six months after it was launched and the Metropolitan Police criminal investigation, which saw Mr Johnson fined for attending his own surprise birthday party celebration in the Cabinet room, only took four months.
Mr Johnson has not been given any indication of when he will be asked to appear in front of the committee to answer questions about whether he misled the Commons when he insisted all Covid guidance had been followed
The ex-PM’s allies are growing increasingly concerned about the delay in the parliamentary investigation, which was originally expected to be done and dusted by last autumn. In October the committee insisted it ‘will be proceeding to hear oral evidence shortly’.
There are suspicions that the committee – led by veteran Labour MP Harriet Harman – is determined to find damning evidence proving that Mr Johnson knew No 10 staff were breaking the law and does not want to put him on the spot until it has found it.
His supporters say it is unfair to keep him waiting for what has been branded a televised witch trial.
One friend of the former PM said: ‘It is as if they want to keep the Sword of Damocles hanging over his head.’ Another added: ‘Justice delayed is justice denied. I suspect they’re having great difficulty in finding a “smoking gun”.’
And a third said: ‘They must have all the documentary evidence that’s available and they should be using that for the next stage of the inquiry. It’s not fair on Boris.’
A spokesman for the privileges committee said: ‘The committee is analysing written evidence submitted to the inquiry by the Government in November, in addition to written evidence received from witnesses by the deadline of February 7. Full details about any oral evidence hearings will be made available when they are announced.’
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