Boris Johnson's main defense was that social gatherings were held to «boost employee morale.»
On Thursday, the Privilege Committee released its long-awaited report on Boris Johnson's party gate rebuttals, which showed he deliberately misled parliament.
Here, The Telegraph details six events that condemned the former prime minister in the eyes of his interrogators.
«Bring your own booze!» party
The committee said it did not believe Mr Johnson would have advised the public that social gatherings to boost morale, such as a 'bring your own booze' party in Downing Street, would be acceptable under Covid rules despite this reasoning forming a key bar for its protection.
Mr Johnson argued that the May 20, 2020 party was “necessary for work purposes” as it was intended to “boost staff morale.”
But the committee said: “We note that in order to For a meeting to comply with the rules, it had to be «necessary» for work purposes.
«We do not believe that a social meeting held solely for the purpose of boosting staff morale can be considered as necessary for work.< /p>
“Moreover, as we elaborate further below, we do not believe that Mr. Johnson would have advised the public that this would have been the case had he been asked about it at the time.”
MPs said that the social nature of the garden party was indicated by the «large number of invitees» and stated that it was «obviously» that Johnson's then fiancée, Carrie, could not be described as «an absolutely necessary attendee».
In her report, Sue Gray found that 30 to 40 people were present and Mr. Johnson showed up for 30 minutes at 6:00 pm.
Johnson's birthday
The committee said it was not convinced according to Mr Johnson he believed that the birthday party thrown in his honor on June 19, 2020 was necessary for the job.
They said the evidence showed that the meeting was attended by at least 17 people, in addition to the former prime minister, including work colleagues, and that it was not socially distancing.
Mr. Johnson said he was considering the event. — for which he was eventually fined — for «innocence», and it never occurred to him that this could be a violation of the rules. jpg» /> Boris Johnson said he considers his birthday «innocent». Photo: courtesy of Pixel8000
The report stated: «We note that Mr. Johnson did not explain why he considered this event 'reasonably necessary for work purposes', other than that he said that it took place just before the work meeting and that 'it seemed to me [ …] perfectly appropriate” for officials to “ask to come and wish me a happy birthday”, which we do not find convincing.
“Mr. Johnson also failed to explain why he considers his wife and an interior designer «absolutely indispensable participants» of the working meeting.
«His statement that the Prime Minister's family has the right to use any part of the building is no explanation.»
Farewell to Lee Kane< p>The committee concluded that it «would have been clear» to Mr. Johnson that firing outgoing communications director Lee Caine was against the rules.
» /> Leaked photos of the event show plenty of alcohol and food as Mr. Johnson makes a toast. Photo: Cabinet Office/Pennsylvania
Leaked photos of the November 13, 2020 event showed a mass of alcohol — bottles of wine, pop and a half-empty gin bottle — along with food, plates and paper cups on a table, and Mr Johnson drinking a toast and giving a farewell speech.
The report states: “We have concluded that there is photographic evidence of Mr. Johnson attending an event on November 13, 2020 where there was no social distancing; that no softening is visible in the photographs; and that Covid rules and regulations at the time did not allow social non-distancing activities solely for the purpose of maintaining staff morale, and that this would have been clear to Mr. Johnson.”
Departure of Cleo Watson
The committee suggested that no «reasonable reading» of the impromptu meeting to mark the departure of Special Counsel Cleo Watson on 27 November 2020 would lead to the conclusion that the event was permissible.
Ms Gray found that the meeting was attended between 15 and 20 people, “some of whom were intoxicated.”
Mr Johnson acknowledged that he was there «for a short time» to give a «short speech» but said he did not believe he had seen anything «against the rules or guidelines» during that time.
< img src=" /wp-content/uploads/2023/06/d5140fb988a78e5eacfb27988e849e33.jpg" /> Cleo Watson with Dominic Cummings on Downing Street. Photo: Jeff Pugh
The Committee stated: “Mr Johnson stated that he was present for about 10 minutes. This would give him the opportunity to observe a large crowd of people in a relatively small area of the lobby.
“We received no evidence that significant mitigation measures or efforts were made at the event to maintain social distancing. .
“We noted earlier… our conclusion is that no reasonable reading of the Covid guidance at the time would have considered a social non-distance event acceptable solely for the purpose of maintaining staff morale.”
The police did not impose any fines for this event.
Wine on the Wall Christmas Party
The committee concluded that the former prime minister was «hardly unaware of this». that the Downing Street Christmas party on 18 December 2020 violated Covid regulations.
They said evidence suggests that Mr Johnson walked past the 9:58 p.m. meeting, where he likely noticed constraint-breaking behavior. .
He said that this «Meg's mystical statement» was «the craziest statement of all». “How do these clairvoyants know exactly what happened at 21:58? I didn’t see anything happening in the press room at all, or anything I can remember, certainly nothing illegal,” he added.
Government parties during the 2020 quarantine
Ms Gray discovered that wine had been spilled on the wall. at the event, and «accidentally went off the panic button.» Jack Doyle, who at that time headed the press service, handed out awards, and even had a Secret Santa.
The report states: «We concluded that it was unlikely that Mr. Johnson was unaware when he returned to his apartment that a crowded meeting was taking place in the press office lobby, violating Covid rules and guidelines.»
«However, we admit that it is possible, although unlikely, that nothing unforeseen happened in the lobby when he went up to the apartment.»
Goodbye, two employees number 10
The committee said it did not believe that the dismissal of two No. 10 staff members on January 14, 2021 could be in line with Covid regulations if the purpose was solely to maintain morale.
Mr Johnson said he «could not be for long ' attended the event. meeting that day to mark the departure of two officials, give a «short speech» and leave in about 10 minutes.
Boris Johnson, at a meeting marking the departure of two No. 10 officials, gives a «short speech»
Again, he said he did not believe that everything he had seen at that time was «against the rules or guidelines».
But the report says: “We note that some participants in the meeting received notices of fixed penalties. As we noted earlier… we do not consider an event at this time to be in compliance with Covid regulations if the purpose of the event was solely to maintain staff morale.”
Ms Gray found that a “virtual grooming presentation” was held for two departing employees in the pillared hall on Downing Street, and about 15 people attended in person.
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