Six things we learned from partygate inquiry evidence

With Boris Johnson preparing to face questions from the privileges committee into whether he misled parliament over Downing Street lockdown gatherings, the evidence being used by the inquiry was published online.

So what have we learned about partygate from the 110-page document that we didn’t know before?

Here are the top six revelations from today’s publication.

Johnson statement in Commons questioned by top official

In written evidence, Mr Johnson’s former principal private secretary revealed he had questioned the then-prime minister about what he planned to say in the Commons and whether it was “realistic”.

On 8 December 2021 – following the leaking of a video showing Allegra Stratton joking about parties in Downing Street – Mr Johnson had been given a prepared answer to any questions about alleged gatherings, suggesting that all rules and guidance had been followed.

But Mr Reynolds said that around an hour before Mr Johnson appeared in the Commons, the senior civil servant asked about the line.

“He did not welcome the interruption but told me that he had received reassurances that the comms [communications] event was within the rules,” Mr Reynolds said.

“I accepted this but questioned whether it was realistic to argue that all guidance had been followed at all times, given the nature of the working environment in Number 10.

“He agreed to delete the reference to guidance.”

When Mr Johnson then appeared in front of MPs at Prime Minister’s Questions, he said: “I repeat that I have been repeatedly assured since these allegations emerged that there was no party and that no COVID rules were broken – that is what I have been repeatedly assured.”

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Press chief admits flaw in guidance claims

When Mr Johnson gave his own written evidence to the committee on Monday, his director of communications popped up a lot.

Jack Doyle ran the team and was one of the key figures that Mr Johnson referenced when making his claims about getting “reassurance” that no rules or guidance had been broken.

And on 1 December 2021, the PM told the Commons: “What I can tell the right honourable and learned gentleman is that all guidance was followed completely in Number 10.”

But in the bundle of evidence released today, it seemed even Mr Doyle had his doubts about that.

When he was interviewed by the Cabinet Office’s investigations team – led by Sue Gray – Mr Doyle said he had spoken to Mr Johnson and told him that he didn’t consider an event reported in the Daily Mirror as “a party”, adding: “We didn’t believe the rules had been broken,”

But when it came to the guidance – where going against the recommendations didn’t break the law – he denied telling this to Mr Johnson.

Mr Doyle told the interviewer: “Don’t think I advised the PM to say that – I mean that the socially distancing guidelines – to say they were followed completely, they are difficult things to say.”

Doyle tells official to be ‘robust’ in response to press

As well as working out what the prime minister should say, it is down to the communications team to respond to the press.

When the first allegations of illegal gatherings were made by Pippa Crerar at the Daily Mirror, it was Mr Doyle and one of his officials discussing how to respond, including over claims a party had taken place in Mr Johnson’s own flat.

In the messages on 30 November 2021 – the day before Mr Johnson told the Commons “all guidance was followed completely in Number 10” – Mr Doyle text his colleague saying: “Can you pull together our best possible defence on this one. I don’t know what we say about the flat.”

The official responded: “Don’t we just do a generic line and not get into whether there was a drinks thing or not? COVID rules have been followed at all times’ or something.”

Mr Doyle told them they had to say something “as robust as we can manage”, adding: “Key thing is there were never any rules against workplace drinking so we can say with confidence no rules were broken.

“Ignore the ‘Xmas quiz’ bull**** – who cares. Just be robust and they’ll get bored.”

Official claims Johnson could have ‘shut down’ parties

One accusation that came out of today’s evidence bundle came from an unnamed Number 10 official who said Mr Johnson could have done something to tackle the party culture in Downing Street, but chose not to.

In written evidence to the committee, they said the then-PM often “saw and joined” gatherings as he was either invited by special advisers or spotted them whilst walking up to his flat.

“The route he took down the corridor looks straight into the press room and vestibule so it’s impossible not to see,” the official said.

They added: “He had the opportunity to shut them down, but joined in, made speeches, had a drink with staff.

“He could have taken the issue up with Martin Reynolds, his principal private secretary, to shut them down. He could see what was happening and allowed the culture to continue.”

Head of Civil Service gave no assurances to Johnson

Simon Case, the top civil servant in the government, has been very clear with the committee that he did not offer any assurances to Mr Johnson about whether rules or guidance had been adhered to.

Mr Case attended gatherings himself – including the birthday party that Mr Johnson, his wife Carrie and current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak were fined for, though the civil servant avoided getting a fixed penalty notice.

He recused himself from the Cabinet Office investigation due to his attendance at another gathering, later to be replaced by Sue Gray.

In written evidence, Mr Case was asked if he gave Mr Johnson assurances that:

• COVID rules were followed at all times in Number 10, specifically in all gatherings covered in the Sue Gray report

• COVID guidance was adhered to at all times in Number 10, specifically in relation to gatherings covered in the Sue Gray report

• No parties were held in Number 10 during the period of COVID restrictions

To all three, Mr Case answered “no”.

He was also asked whether he knew of anyone else who gave Mr Johnson such assurances, but again, his answer was “no”.

Parting shot from Cummings

Once Mr Johnson’s right-hand man, Dominic Cumming’s exit from Number 10 was far from amicable.

The former chief adviser has been outspoken about what the then PM knew or didn’t know when it came to partygate, and in this bundle of evidence, it is no different.

He gave written evidence to the Sue Gray inquiry, passed on to the committee, regarding the drinks party in the garden on 20 May 2020 – more commonly known as the bring your own booze event organised over email by Martin Reynolds.

Mr Cummings said: “The idea the PM could have thought this drinks event was ‘work’ is comical given the table covered in bottles of drink, everyone standing around drinking etc.”

And he doubled down again, adding: “The PM certainly knew it was a drinks party because I told him and when he walked outside he saw a drinks party.”

Watch coverage of Boris Johnson giving evidence to Privileges Committee on partygate live on Sky News from 2pm.

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