Privileges Committee blocked two MPS' bid to have Boris thrown out of Commons

PARLIAMENT was misled by Boris Johnson multiple times through his denials about parties in Downing Street during the pandemic, according to the Privileges Committee

- Martyn Brown

The long-awaited findings of its inquiry into the former Prime Minister's actions came in a 106-page report released yesterday.

It also emerged that the committee blocked a bid by two members to have him expelled from the Commons.

The report found Mr Johnson:

But the main finding was that Mr Johnson deliberately misled the Commons by repeatedly telling it, after the Partygate scandal had emerged, that Covid rules were followed at all times in No10.

Mr Johnson has already conceded that MPs were misled by his original statements - but he insists he believed them to be true at the time and they were based on assurances he received from officials.

However, the seven-member cross-party committee found he had "personal knowledge" of breaches of the rules and guidance in Downing Street. And it said he failed to seek out "authoritative" assurances about compliance, which amounted to a "deliberate closing of his mind".

The report said it was "highly unlikely" Mr Johnson believed the assurances he gave to Parliament at the time - "still less that he could continue to believe them to this day".