Boris Johnson news live: Former PM says ‘totally wrong’ to think he was partying during lockdown

Independent TV Hosts the Prime Minister’s appearance before the Privileges Committee live on YouTube.

Boris Johnson is fighting for his political future after MPs investigating his party’s denials denounced the “flawed” guarantees on which they relied.

In his sometimes brief testimony that lasted more than three hours, the former prime minister insisted there was “no shred of evidence” to show he had lied to MPs.

It was quite insane, he said, to the Privileges Committee, which could recommend his suspension from the House of Commons, to mislead Parliament.

If a motion for a 10-day suspension is voted on by MPs, a by-election could be held for Johnson’s seat, which could signal the end of his parliamentary career.

For more than three hours, Johnson was quizzed about whether he knew parties were taking place in Downing Street during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Boris Johnson hands his fat ass to him on a platter saying that now on TV is cool these days [sic],” the former Oasis commander tweeted during the broadcast hearing.

Boris Johnson’s hopes of a political comeback appeared dashed on Wednesday after he was accused of making “label” excuses in the Partijat party at the same time he failed to lead a House of Commons revolt against Rishi Sunak.

During a sometimes televised hearing about the scandal, the former prime minister defended parties inside Number 10 during the pandemic – including one attended by his wife and decorator – as “essential” for business purposes.

It also turns out that Mr Johnson had been expressly warned against claiming all Covid guidelines were being followed – but he did it anyway.

Our Whitehall Editor Kate Devlin and political reporter Adam Forrest a report:

During Boris Johnson’s party hearing, Labor MP Yvonne Fovarage asked the former prime minister about his former aide Lee Cain’s claim that a Downing Street garden party was a “purely social event”.

Johnson said it was “not a big social gathering”. He added, “People who say we’re celebrating at No. 10 simply don’t know what they’re talking about.”

Watch their exchange here:

Mick Hucknall has strongly denounced former Prime Minister Boris Johnson for denying he lied about partying during the Covid lockdown.

Johnson is currently facing investigations into whether he misled the House of Commons in the Partigit inquiry. During Wednesday’s committee hearing, Johnson said allegations he was “partying during lockdown” were false.

At the hearing, Johnson attempted to justify a particular rally for the departure of aide Lee Cain, claiming it “should happen”.

Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg said Boris Johnson had “won in the court of public opinion” after being grilled by the party.

said the arch-loyal to the former prime minister Channel 4 News: I think if Boris Johnson goes to a by-election he will win it comfortably. Because I think he wins in the court of public opinion, who see in it a kangaroo court.”

He also said: “It was clear that he was acting correctly, that he told the truth as he understood it at the time, as he was advised. He told the truth as he understood it.”

When told that Mr Johnson looked upset during the hearing, Mr Rhys-Mogg said: “I actually thought he modeled himself after a cucumber and it was pretty cool.”