Boris Johnson has rejected an allegation that breaches of coronavirus rules would have been “obvious” to the then-prime minister as "absurd" and “illogical”, as he argues that he relied on advice from trusted advisers.
Johnson insisted it was “unprecedented and absurd” to suggest he was reckless to rely on the assurances of his advisers and criticised the “highly partisan tone and content” in the committee’s damning interim report.
The ex-Prime Minister said that some of those who attended the events “wished me ill and would denounce me if I concealed the truth”.
He insisted that, other than the “assertions of the discredited Dominic Cummings”, his former chief aide, there is “not a single document that indicates that I received any warning or advice that any event broke” the rules.
Johnson criticised the “highly partisan tone and content” in the committee’s damning interim report
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Johnson accepted that he misled MPs but insisted his partygate denials were made “in good faith” based on what he “honestly” knew at the time.
He wrote: “Far from achieving a ‘cover-up’, I would have known that any deception on my part would lead to instant exposure. This would have been senseless and immediately self-defeating."
His 52-page defence dossier was published today, ahead of a live hearing by the cross-party group of MPs that could decide his political fate.
In his legal argument, Johnson accepted that his denials turned out not to be true but said he corrected the record at the “earliest opportunity”.
In his written evidence to the Privileges Committee, Johnson writes: “So I accept that the House of Commons was misled by my statements that the Rules and Guidance had been followed completely at No 10.
“But when the statements were made, they were made in good faith and on the basis of what I honestly knew and believed at the time.
"I did not intentionally or recklessly mislead the House on December 1 2021, December 8 2021, or on any other date. I would never have dreamed of doing so.”
The committee has responded to Johnson’s legal argument saying that it “contains no new documentary evidence” and that it had to be resubmitted on Tuesday because of “a number of errors and typos”.
Boris Johnson accepted that he misled MPs but insisted his partygate denials were made “in good faith”
PA
If Johnson fails to convince the committee that he did not deliberately mislead the Commons, he could be found to have committed a contempt of Parliament.
A suspension of more than 10 days could result in a by-election in his Uxbridge and South Ruislip seat.
An estimated £220,000 of taxpayers’ money has been allocated for Johnson’s legal bills.
He has received one of the 126 fines issued by Scotland Yard during its investigation into lockdown-breaking parties in Downing Street and Whitehall while he was prime minister.
