- Boris Johnson faces MPs over allegations of defying lockdown protocols to party
- The former British prime minister said he never lied or misled Parliament
- Johnson faces an end to his political career if the committee concludes he made false statements
Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson denies accusations that he lied to Parliament on "partygate" amid COVID-19 restrictions in a case that could severely impact his political career.
On Wednesday, the lawmaker insisted "hand on heart" that he did not break COVID protocols over government parties. His remarks come as he was questioned by the House of Commons standards committee due to his misleading statements to Parliament regarding several gatherings at government buildings that went against lockdown regulations.
Boris Johnson Faces MPs Over 'Partygate' Hearing
If the committee concludes that Johnson deliberately lied at the time, he could be met with suspension or even lose his seat in the Commons. On the other hand, the former prime minister said that anyone who thought he was partying during the lockdown was wrong.
Johnson's defense came during a session that displayed his characteristic qualities: self-confidence, verbosity, and a loose relationship with facts, as some critics refer to it. He also went on to criticize the committee itself, which was composed of four Conservative members and three from opposition parties, as per the Associated Press.
The hearing lasted roughly three hours and was seen as a critical moment for a politician whose career has been full of ups and downs and included scandals and comebacks. An unfavorable ruling on Johnson would mean that his return to power would grind to an end.
In July 2022, his party forced the former prime minister out after getting involved in a slew of scandals over money, ethics, and judgment. Furthermore, the reports of the parties came out in December 2021, which he countered by saying that he and his staff followed government rules.
However, those statements were inaccurate, as Johnson later acknowledged. Instead, he argued that it was what he "honestly believed" at the time. He apologized for inadvertently misleading the House, saying he did not do so recklessly or deliberately.
Unaware of Breaking Protocols
The committee head, Labour Party's Harriet Harman, challenged Johnson's defense, at one point describing his statements as "flimsy" and arguing that they did not amount to much. According to BBC, the former prime minister also clashed with Conservative MP Sir Bernard Jenkin.
Johnson angrily told the senior Tory that he was talking complete 'nonsense" when he suggested that he was relying too heavily on what political advisers were telling him. His legal adviser and supporters supported the former prime minister, including former cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg, who sat behind him.
Jenkin argued that Johnson should have seen it as apparent at the time, or at least evident on reflection afterward, that he defied government protocols. In response to questions, the former prime minister said he made his statements before a police investigation or civil service report into the "partygate" scandal that was published, said CNN.
Related Article: Emmanuel Macron Defends Pension Reform Amid Widespread Protests
