It's a political stitch-up...allies accuse inquiry of delaying the release of Boris' defence dossier

BORIS Johnson's allies have criticised as a "stitch up" a parliamentary probe for "withholding" a bombshell dossier setting out evidence that he did not deliberately mislead MPs.

- Sam Lister and Christian Calgie

The ex-Prime Minister handed over documents showing aides had advised him that gatherings in No 10 did not break lockdown rules to the Privileges committee ahead of its four-hour televised grilling tomorrow.

Supporters said the delay fuelled suspicions about how the process, headed by Labour's Harriet Harman, was being carried out.

A former minister said: "It's a pity but not a surprise that Harriet Harman's committee won't publish Boris's evidence today. Maybe they need a bit more time to move the goalposts again to get the result they're after.

"Boris's evidence should be published by Harman without delay so everyone can see how Boris did not knowingly mislead Parliament."

Tory MP Sir James Duddridge, one of Mr Johnson's closest allies, said: "The committee should just get on and publish. What are they waiting for? Any further delay leads to suspicions all is not right." Conservative MP Lia Nici claims Mr Johnson is the victim of a "politically coordinated stitch-up" by people who hate him. She said there is "no evidence" that the ex-PM "deliberately" misled Parliament.