Dominic Raab has insisted Boris Johnson did not intentionally mislead the House of Commons when he told MPs covid rules had not been broken over partygate.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary said his boss acted in "good faith" when he spoke to parliament about the rules that were broken in 2020.
Asked if that meant Johnson had misled Parliament, Raab told Times Radio: "No, I don't think there was an intention to mislead. The Prime Minister in good faith updated Parliament on what he knows.
"Of course, precisely because there were questions around this, the Sue Gray inquiry was set up and precisely because it was right and proper to enable the Met to conduct the investigation that has taken place.
"Of course we accept that those things wouldn't have happened if there weren't legitimate questions that have been made."
On Tuesday the Metropolitan Police disclosed that 20 fixed penalty notices were being issued in relation to events in No 10 and Whitehall.
Johnson told the Commons on December 8: "I have been repeatedly assured that the rules were not broken. I repeat that I have been repeatedly assured since these allegations emerged that there was no party and that no Covid rules were broken."
If the PM is found to have intentionally misled the parliament then many Tory MPs would prompt a resignation from Johnson.
Asked on Sky News if the issuing of a fixed penalty notice meant the law had been broken, Raab said: "Yes, inevitably fixed penalty notices (are issued to) those that have breached the regulations.
"We stand by and support the fact that there should be the Met process, the Sue Gray process and accountability."
Raab added: "The Prime Minister has already taken responsibility for things that shouldn't have happened in No 10. He has apologised for it, and more than that he has overhauled No 10.
"Of course we wait to see the outcome of the conclusions of the Met process."
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