British Partygate

Boris Johnson Kirsty O'Connor / AP  

Investigation completed - Johnson deliberately misled parliamentarians on several occasions 

Boris Johnson deliberately misled the British Parliament about the partygate scandal on several occasions when he was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.  

This is shown by a new investigation from the responsible committee of the parliament.  

Sky News lists several examples from the report. On 1 December 2021, he told parliament that "all rules were fully followed" and a week later he stated that "the guidelines were followed at all times". Similar moves were made several times in the first half of 2022. According to the committee, he also misled the parliamentarians when he did not tell them what he himself knew about which rules had been broken.  

The committee recommends a 90-day suspension. But Johnson preceded this with his resignation last Friday.  

The investigation was released at 10 a.m. The British media are now going through the entire 30,000-word investigation in search of more conclusions. The committee has been working on the investigation for 14 months, according to the Financial Times.  

 

Boris Johnson with wife Carrie. Kirsty Wigglesworth / AP  

 

British partygate  

Johnson on the report: It is a political assassination  

 

Boris Johnson reacts strongly to the parliamentary report on "partygate". The former prime minister, who was allowed to read it in advance, calls it a "charade", "witch hunt" and a "political assassination".  

 

The 30,000-word report is a scathing indictment of Johnson's actions during the pandemic and the subsequent investigation. The investigators state that he deliberately misled the parliament and recommend a 90-day suspension – a harsh punishment in these contexts.  

 

Johnson, ahead of the verdict, announced last week that he is stepping down as a member of parliament.

 

Analysis: Boris Johnson is a world-class liar  

Boris Johnson has been caught lying before. But after today's presentation of the partygate investigation, The Independent's Sean O'Grady believes that it can be established: Boris Johnson is a liar.  

“Not just a liar, but a liar of historic proportions. A world-class liar, heavyweight, lying on an industrial level,” thunders O'Grady, adding that Johnson, despite his nine lives, will not be able to get up. 

“There is no going back.”  

The BBC's Chris Mason is a little more reserved, but says the report is devastating for the man who was prime minister as recently as 40 weeks ago.  

"Oh my God. This is a report which, in its breadth and depth, demolishes Boris Johnson's character and conduct.” 

In the Daily Telegraph, a newspaper close to Johnson, Camilla Tominey writes that the investigation was designed to frame him. She points out that the police have cleared Johnson and closed all investigations against him.  

Unlike many of his colleagues, Tominey believes Johnson can come back.  

"History teaches us that Johnson may be dead for now, but far from buried."