The former Prime Minister is facing a committee which will determine whether he intentionally misled the House of Commons
UNDER PRESSURE: The privileges committee grilled Boris Johnson today over claims he misled MPs
“I’m here to say to you, hand on heart, that I did not lie to the House,” he told the committee. Johnson was being interrogated by seven MPs in an event that has the potential to end his political career.Harriet Harman, chairwoman of the Privileges Committee undertaking the grilling, however, rejected the former prime minister’s demand that the inquiry only considers his discussion of coronavirus guidance.
Mr Johnson swore on the Bible to tell the truth before issuing an apology and adding: “I’m here to say to you, hand on heart, I did not lie to the House. When those statements were made, they were made in good faith and on the basis on what I honestly knew and believed at the time.” Mr Johnson argued that the process being used to decide whether he was in contempt of Parliament is “manifestly unfair”. “You have found nothing to show that I was warned in advance that events in No 10 were illegal, in fact nothing to show that anyone raised anxieties with me about any event, whether before or after it had taken place,” he said.
He is battling to avoid a suspension and a possible by-election that could follow if he is found to have committed a contempt of Parliament. In evidence published by the committee, officials denied telling him that no guidance was broken at mid-pandemic parties before he went on to insist all rules were followed.
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