The investigation into whether Boris Johnson deliberately misled MPs over Partygate has officially begun today.
Labour veteran Harriet Harman was confirmed as chair after the Privileges Committee finally met for the first time over the probe - two months after MPs ordered it.
The 71-year-old MP is known as the Mother of the House as she is the longest-serving current female MP, since 1982. She is respected by cross-party MPs and takes the role months after the death of her husband, the veteran Labour MP Jack Dromey.
The inquiry has also appointed Rt Hon Sir Ernest Ryder, a former Lord Justice of Appeal, as its independent advisor. One of the most senior judges in the land, he began serving on the High Court in 2004.
MPs today opened a call for evidence asking anyone with "knowledge of events" related to Partygate, and whether the Prime Minister "misled the House", to contact them by July 29 ahead of hearings this autumn.
This can include evidence of:
- Mr Johnson’s knowledge of the activities in 10 Downing Street and the Cabinet Office under Covid regulations, from the occurrence of those events until now;
- any briefing given to, or inquiries made by, Mr Johnson relating to those events
MPs on the committee are due to discuss at later sessions whether Mr Johnson, his wife Carrie and senior aides will be asked to give evidence over breaking lockdown rules.
They are also due to decide later whether hearings will be held in public or behind closed doors.
Crucially, the Committee have agreed they will be wiling to take evidence from people who want to remain anonymous - such as civil servants in No10.
The final report by the committee, expected no earlier than October or November, is widely regarded as a moment of high peril for the Prime Minister.
Tory rebels have already been plotting his downfall after humiliating defeats in two crunch by-elections last week.
Some MPs who backed him in the last confidence vote have privately warned they would withdraw their support if he was found to have lied to Parliament, usually a sackable offence.
Senior Tories told the Mirror that plans were afoot for a "rebel slate" of candidates to be nominated for the backbench 1922 committee which could bring forward another confidence vote.
One former minister told the Mirror: "It's much more coordinated this time. We're working right across the party on electing a committee that would keep the whips' lackeys at bay".
The committee’s investigation was sparked earlier this year after a row in which Boris Johnson initially tried to block it.
It can investigate if MPs have breached parliamentary privilege and find them in contempt of Parliament for “deliberately misleading” the Commons.
Examples include War Secretary John Profumo who denied an affair in 1963 - but damning sanctions are rare and only happen when ordered by the whole House of Commons.
The last MP to face sanction was Tory Justin Tomlinson in 2016, who leaked a credit-related report to Wonga.
The last investigated for misleading MPs was Labour ’s Stephen Byers in 2006. He gave an inaccurate answer “inadvertently” so there was no contempt.
The committee is usually chaired by Labour’s Chris Bryant, but he has recused himself.
The probe “includes but is not limited to” four statements Boris Johnson made in December 2021 denying parties at No10.
They include “all guidance was followed” - a claim he later corrected, but said he thought was right at the time - and an explicit denial that there was a party on 13 November 2020.
The PM was later pictured holding a glass of fizz at aide Lee Cain’s leaving do on that day. He has claimed it was his “duty” to attend.
The committee could also, if it chooses, investigate fresh claims that Carrie Johnson held a gathering in the flat on 19 June 2020, which was not mentioned in Sue Gray’s Partygate report.
