Boris Johnson, pictured meeting with the Texas governor on Tuesday, said the allegations were «completely untrue.» Credit: BLOOMBERG
Boris Johnson has been referred to police amid new allegations of violating Covid lockdown rules in what has been called political «slander». his allies.
The Metropolitan Police and Thames Valley Police confirmed on Tuesday that they are looking into the gatherings Mr Johnson attended, including the reception of visitors, at Downing Street and at Checkers when he was Prime Minister.
This was initiated by the Cabinet of Ministers, which handed over the diary. records that were unearthed by lawyers working on Mr. Johnson's formal submission to the Covid investigation.
Cabinet sources said officials were required by civil service code to provide information to police as they related to records detailing potential violations of Covid rules.
'Political fraud'
However, Mr Johnson's spokesman said the allegations were «completely untrue». and suggested that the statements were made for «political purposes».
Legal options will be considered by the former prime minister after the government turns over excerpts from his diaries to the police without informing him.
This development sparked an uproar as friends of the former prime minister said he was targeted by «political fraud». and "smear".
Mr Johnson's ally said, «This is ridiculous and it is a deliberate attempt to misread the diary entries to make something out of nothing.»
Supporters of the former prime minister pointed out that Oliver Dowden, the most senior minister in the cabinet, is one of Rishi Sunak's closest friends in politics.
But cabinet sources said no minister was involved in the adoption this decision, dismissing any allegations of politicking. and that officials have an obligation to act.
This comes as the government prepares to confirm that net migration has reached an all-time high, with the total projected to be between 700,000 and one million people.
The fall of the former prime minister from power last year followed a "party" scandal in which Covid fines were issued for eight events at government buildings. Mr Johnson received one fine.
A related investigation by the Commons Privileges Committee into whether Mr Johnson misled MPs about events continues to cloud his hopes of a political comeback, with a report expected next month. It is assumed that the committee was informed about the direction of the police.
New Checkers and Downing Street Events
Little is known about the gatherings at the center of the latest event. One source familiar with them said there were «several» of them. events. Another said "more than ten".
The police confirmed that they occurred between June 2020 and May 2021, during the period when the country entered and exited the lockdown.
The Telegraph reported that one of the events in question was a dinner at the No. 10 Garden, which was attended by Mr Johnson and his mother Charlotte, who died in September 2021.
Another case, which Whitehall sources strongly denied, was against the rules and was allegedly organized by Downing Street, was said to be linked to Mr Johnson's meeting with TV presenter Kate Garraway to discuss her husband, who was left in a life-threatening condition after being diagnosed with Covid in March 2020. The full details of the events have not yet been made public.
Sunak v. Johnson
There is a growing feud between supporters of Mr Johnson and Mr Sunak over last year's Tory uprising that led to the former Prime Minister's expulsion from Downing Street.
Mr Johnson resigned in less than 48 hours after Mr. Sunak and Sajid Javid, the health minister at the time, left his office. Johnson's allies continue to place some of the blame for his demise on Sunak, but the premier's supporters dismiss the claim.
Last fall, Mr. Johnson tried again to become prime minister when Liz Truss resigned, but dropped out after several MPs backed Mr. Sunak.
A cabinet spokesman said: " ; The information came to light in the process of preparing evidence for submission as part of the Covid investigation.
"In accordance with the obligations stipulated by the civil service code, this material was transferred to the relevant authorities and now it is up to them.&# 34;
The Civil Service Code states: «In line with the core value of integrity, public servants must uphold the law and uphold the administration of justice.» 39;
A spokesman for Mr Johnson said: «Some of the abridged entries in Mr Johnson's official diary were requested by Cabinet in preparation for the Covid investigation.»
«After examining the records, Mr. Johnson's lawyers wrote to the cabinet and privileges committee explaining that the events were legal and did not violate any Covid rules.»
Spokesperson added: “The Cabinet’s assertion that there have been further violations of Covid rules is completely untrue.
"No contact was made with Mr. Johnson prior to these false allegations being made to both the police and the privileges committee. This is both strange and unacceptable.
"Regardless of the political goal, it is clear that this is a last-ditch effort to prolong the Privileges Committee investigation as it nears completion and undermine Mr. Johnson's credibility.
" ;Tonight Mr. Johnson's lawyers wrote to the police to explain in detail why the Cabinet is completely wrong in their allegations.
"All the events in question were within the rules either because they were held outdoors or were subject to under another legal exception. These include regular meetings with civil servants and advisers.
"Many will think that this has all the hallmarks of another politically motivated blackmail"
The Metropolitan Police said that they are evaluating entries that «relate to possible violations of the Health Regulations between June 2020 and May 2021 at Downing Street.»
A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said they were evaluating «a report on potential violations of the Health Regulations between June 2020 and May 2021 in Checkers, Buckinghamshire.”
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