headline: Did Boris Johnson mislead Parliament over parties?
text: Some Conservative MPs have suggested that Boris Johnson should stand in the contest to be party leader and prime minister following the resignation of Liz Truss.
  He is currently being investigated by a Commons committee over whether he misled MPs when talking about parties in Downing Street. The Privileges Committee plans to start taking evidence in public sessions before the end of November.
  Mr Johnson, who has already been fined by police for breaking his own Covid rules, could face suspension from the House of Commons or even lose his seat, if the committee finds he was in contempt of Parliament. 
  He announced his resignation as prime minister on 7 July, but stayed in post until Liz Truss took over on 6 September. 
  re has been discussion about whether the committee needs to be convinced that he deliberately misled MPs to rule that he was in contempt.
  In July, the Privileges Committee said its legal advice was that the prime minister's intent was not relevant to this judgement, although it could affect any penalties imposed.
  Senior lawyer Lord Pannick was asked to look into this by Mr Johnson. He described the committee's approach as "fundamentally flawed". It rejected his criticism. 
  re the key times Boris Johnson talked in Parliament about Downing Street parties, when he was prime minister. 
  Date of quote: 8 December 2021
  Context: Labour MP Catherine West asked: "Will the prime minister tell the House whether there was a party in Downing Street on 13 November [2020]?"
  What Mr Johnson said: "No - but I am sure that whatever happened, the guidance was followed and the rules were followed at all times."
  Let's break down his answer. 
  Party 
  first part is the apparent denial that there was a party on 13 November 2020. 
  Ms West's question specified "party" and that is not a term for which there is a precise definition. 
  Sue Gray, the civil servant who investigated Downing Street parties and gatherings, does not use the word when detailing the events of 13 November. Instead, her report mentions: 
  f the former show the then prime minister raising a glass in front of several people and a table with a number of wine bottles, as well as takeaway food.
  Rules
  Mr Johnson said the rules were followed "at all times". 
  But we now know they were not. The Metropolitan Police investigation into gatherings at Downing Street led to a total of 126 fines being issued to 83 individuals for breaking Covid rules.
  On the specific date he was being asked about, we know the Met issued fines - for breaches of the rules on indoor gatherings of two or more people. 
  Met has not specified which event, but the BBC has been told that at least one person who attended the leaving drinks that Mr Johnson was pictured at was fined. The then prime minister did not receive a fine - the Met has not explained why.
  Guidance
  Mr Johnson said the guidance was followed "at all times".
  guidance for working in offices at the time said "only absolutely necessary participants should physically attend meetings" and they should maintain social distancing. 
  He told Parliament on 23 June that: "Where it is possible to keep 2m apart, people should. But where it is not, we will advise people to keep a social distance of 1m-plus." That guidance was still current by 13 November. 
  re was nothing in that guidance document that implied that leaving drinks or other forms of socialising at work were allowed.
  But the photos in the Sue Gray report clearly show Mr Johnson drinking in front of staff members - who are standing very close to each other - with bottles of wine on a table. 
  r gathering on 13 November was in Mr Johnson's flat. 
  report says there was a meeting that evening "to discuss the handling" of the departures of Mr Cain and special adviser Dominic Cummings. 
  Five special advisers were present, along with food and alcohol. Mr Johnson joined at 20:00 and the "discussion carried on later into the evening". 
  Previously, several newspapers reported that Abba songs could be heard playing in the No 10 flat that evening. 
  Date of quote: 25 May 2022
  Context: The prime minister's response in Parliament to the final publication of the Sue Gray report.
  What Johnson said: "I am happy to set on the record now that when I said - I came to this house and said in all sincerity that the rules and guidance had been followed at all times - it was what I believed to be true. It was certainly the case when I was present at gatherings to wish staff farewell."
  We know from the Sue Gray report that he attended leaving drinks on: 
  Mr Johnson says both rules and guidance were "certainly" followed when he was present at these gatherings. 
  We know that two of them (13 November and 14 January) led to police fines but we can't tell whether these rule breaches happened when he was there.
  When it comes to the guidance, the photos of the Lee Cain event apparently show people closer than 1m together, and thus not following the guidance, while Mr Johnson was in the room and looking on. 
  Date of quote: 8 December 2021
  Context: Opening remarks to Parliament after a video emerged of members of his staff joking about whether there had been a Christmas party at Downing Street. 
  What Johnson said: "I have been repeatedly assured since these allegations emerged that there was no party and that no Covid rules were broken."
  rty they were talking about is understood to be the one on 18 December 2020, when between 20 and 45 individuals gathered for a "Wine & Cheese Evening" and "Secret Santa".  
  re is no mention, in the Sue Gray report, of Boris Johnson being present or having been notified about it.
  Mr Johnson's claim, on 8 December 2021, revolves around what assurances he was given, which we do not know. 
  If he was told there was no party - he could argue he had not knowingly misled the House.
  Watch: What has Boris Johnson said before about alleged No 10 parties?
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