Boris Johnson has been referred to police once more over a new possible breach of Covid rules. It's been reported that the ministerial diary from when he was Prime Minister may reveal visits by friends to Chequers during lockdown.
According to Sky News, the allegations also refer to potential breaches at Downing Street. Metropolitan Police and Thames Valley Police have reportedly been in receipt of details from the Cabinet Office.
The body which is still holding an inquiry into the former PM's 'lockdown parties', the Commons privileges committee, has also been told.
A spokesman for Mr Johnson told PA: “Some abbreviated entries in Mr Johnson’s official diary were queried by Cabinet Office during preparation for the Covid inquiry. Following an examination of the entries, Mr Johnson’s lawyers wrote to the Cabinet Office and Privileges Committee explaining that the events were lawful and were not breaches of any Covid regulations.”
The Cabinet Office said: “Information came to light during the process of preparing evidence for submission to the Covid inquiry. It was identified as part of the normal disclosure review of potentially relevant documents being undertaken by the legal team for inquiry witnesses.
“In line with obligations in the Civil Service Code, this material has been passed to the relevant authorities and it is now a matter for them.”
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "We are in receipt of information from the Cabinet Office passed to us on 19 May 2023, which we are currently assessing. It relates to potential breaches of the Health Protection Regulations between June 2020 and May 2021 at Downing Street."
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In a statement given to The Times, Thames Valley Police also confirmed they were looking into a report of potential breaches of the rules at Chequers.
They told the paper: “On Thursday we received a report of potential breaches of the health protection regulations between June 2020 and May 2021 at Chequers, Buckinghamshire. We are currently assessing this information.”
Sky News reports that sources close to Mr Johnson called the referral "clearly politically motivated" and claimed the Cabinet Office did not give him any notice "so he could put forward the facts before the report was made".
