- Boris will present a “compelling dossier” to the Commons Privileges Committee.
- To deny lying to the House of Commons about Covid rule-breaking parties.
- Johnson denies deceiving the Lawmakers.
In advance of a questioning by MPs about whether he lied to the House of Commons about Covid rule-breaking parties, Boris Johnson will share defense supporting documentation.
On Wednesday, the Commons Privileges Committee will hear from the former prime minister in a key televised testimony session.
Although the committee has not yet released its final finding, an earlier report stated that Mr. Johnson may have repeatedly misled Parliament.
Johnson denies deceiving the Lawmakers.
Mr. Johnson will have a crucial opportunity to convince the seven MPs who make up the committee that he did not deceive Lawmakers in December 2021 at the session on Wednesday, which could last up to five hours.
That would include when he told the Commons that he had “been repeatedly assured since these allegations emerged that there was no party and that no Covid rules were broken”.
According to sources close to Mr. Johnson, he will present a “compelling dossier” that would offer proof and justifications for his denial of intentionally misleading parliament.
If he fails to satisfy the committee and is found guilty, he might be suspended from the Commons, and potentially faces a recall petition, which would trigger a by-election, if that suspension is for more than 10 days.
But most importantly, MPs would have to consent to any punishment for Mr. Johnson.
Following a senior civil servant’s investigation into rampant rule-breaking in May of last year, Mr. Johnson was one of 83 people who received fines from the police for attending illegal parties.
According to reputed media outlets, Mr. Johnson’s “dossier” will contain information he alleges No. 10 aides told him at the time, telling him that Covid guidelines were not infringed.
The Sunday Times quotes one source saying the messages show “in black and white” that what Mr. Johnson told Parliament was what he had been advised to say by officials and his No 10 team, claiming he was forced to rely on advice because he was not at some of the events.
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