Page:Fifth Report - Matter referred on 21 April 2022 (conduct of Rt Hon Boris Johnson).pdf/41

 122. Mr Johnson went on: "I repeat that I have been repeatedly assured since these allegations emerged that there was no party and that no covid Rules were broken. That is what I have been repeatedly assured."

123. Pressed by the Leader of the Opposition on this issue, Mr Johnson said: "I apologise for the impression that has been given that staff in Downing Street take this less than seriously. I am sickened myself and furious about that, but I repeat what I have said to him: I have been repeatedly assured that the Rules were not broken."

124. Mr Johnson referred to the assurances a further time, in response to the next question asked by the Leader of the Opposition, stating: “I have been repeatedly assured that no rules were broken.”

125. Later in PMQs, Mr Johnson was asked by the Labour MP Catherine West whether there had been a party in No. 10 on 13 November 2020 (we examine an event that took place in No. 10 that evening at paragraphs 49 to 66 above). He replied, “No, but I am sure that whatever happened, the Guidance was followed and the Rules were followed at all times.” In response to a question from Ian Blackford, Mr Johnson commented that “the Opposition parties are trying to muddy the waters about events, or non-events, of a year ago”.

126. At the same PMQs, on 8 December 2021, Mr Johnson announced that he had commissioned the Cabinet Secretary, Simon Case, to carry out an investigation into the alleged gathering on 18 December 2020. In written evidence, Mr Johnson argues that by announcing this investigation, he “anticipated the possibility that the statement that I made to the House on 1 December 2020 [sic: error for 2021], and the assurances that I had received by others, may turn out to be incorrect”. Mr Case subsequently recused himself from conducting this investigation, responsibility for which was transferred to the then Second Permanent Secretary at the Cabinet Office, Sue Gray, with a remit extended to cover other gatherings.

127. On 15 December 2021, Mr Johnson told the House: “A report is being delivered to me by the Cabinet Secretary into exactly what went on”. On 12 January 2022, Mr Johnson said to the House in relation to the gathering of 20 May 2020: “All I ask is that Sue Gray be allowed to complete her inquiry into that day and several others, so that the full facts can be established”; he also repeated urged Members to “wait” for the inquiry