Key takeaways from explosive new Partygate report

A new report into Boris Johnson and Partygate has been released by MPs investigating whether or not the former prime minister lied to parliament.

The privileges committee today published a 24-page document which will be used to question Mr Johnson when he appears before the MPs later this month.

The key lines from the Partygate report include :

Boris Johnson’s communications chief admitted there was a "great gaping hole" in the prime minister's account of Partygate

Messages show that in response to a suggestion the event is described as “reasonably necessary for work purposes”, his communications chief wrote: “Not sure that one works does it. Also blows another great gaping hole in the PM's account doesn't it?"'

Mr Johnson’s key claim - that all rules were followed - came from a special adviser and was not “a general assurance (that) no guidance or rules were broken”

The report says: “We will consider why he said he had been given repeated assurances when the evidence is that the assertion that all rules were followed was taken primarily from a line-to-take developed by the Director of Communications at No. 10, a special adviser appointed by Mr Johnson, as a response to a media enquiry about specific gatherings rather than having been a general assurance as to the fact that no guidance or rules were broken in No. 10.”

Mr Johnson could also see a notorious gathering point for Downing Street parties during lockdown from the bottom of the stairs leading up to his flat

The report states: “We (the committee) conducted a site visit to No. 10 Downing Street on 21 February 2023, at which we confirmed that a line of sight exists from the bottom of the stairs leading up to what was then Mr Johnson’s flat into the Press Office vestibule where these gatherings took place, and that for Mr Johnson to have been present in the vestibule during the gatherings he would have had to proceed from the staircase through a further intervening anteroom.”

Boris Johnson would occasionally join No 10 press office drinks on Friday evenings during Covid

The report says that there is evidence that a culture of drinking in the workplace in some parts of No 10 continued after Covid restrictions began. It says events such as birthday parties and leaving parties for officials continued despite social distancing.

“In particular, the events that continued included Friday evening drinks gatherings in the press office area. Mr Johnson is said by witnesses to have seen Press Office gatherings on his way to the No 10 flat, and to have occasionally joined these gatherings when his attendance had not been planned.”

Mr Johnson was aware of the rules and guidance on social distancing in place at the time

The prime minister repeatedly referred to them at press conferences between May and December 2020, the report points out.

Mr Johnson was present at seven gatherings at No 10, including one in the garden and another to celebrate his birthday.

All occurred between May 2020 and January 2021, when there were restrictions in place on gatherings of more than two people.

Mr Johnson may have misled the House when he said no rules or guidance had been broken

The Sue Gray report and the Metropolitan Police later both concluded was not correct.

Also the Commons may have been misled when Mr Johnson failed to tell MPs about his own knowledge of the gatherings

The report makes this point, adding that in evidence is the fact that he was present at a number of them himself.

Mr Johnson apparently failed to correct statements he repeatedly made

The report says the prime minister did not use what are well-established procedures the House of Commons to correct something that was wrong at the earliest opportunity.