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LAST UPDATE | 22 Mar 2023
BORIS JOHNSON WAS accused of relying on “flimsy” assurances before issuing his partygate denials, as he insisted there is not a “shred of evidence” to show he lied to MPs.
In at times short-tempered testimony, the former UK prime minister’s defences were met on today with exasperation by multiple colleagues on the Privileges Committee that could recommend his suspension.
Johnson hit out at the “manifestly unfair” process in the hearing spanning more than three hours but declined to repeat the charge of some allies that the inquiry is a “kangaroo court”.
He accepts he misled MPs but denies doing so “recklessly”, insisting he denied lockdown breaches “in good faith” on the advice of officials, who turned out to be wrong.
Harriet Harman, the Labour chairwoman of the Tory-majority committee, asked whether he could see why they were “a bit dismayed about the flimsy nature” of the assurances.
Senior Tory Bernard Jenkin questioned why Johnson failed to take “proper advice”, which Johnson angrily rejected as “complete nonsense”.
Johnson also hit out at Alberto Costa for raising a “completely ridiculous assessment” after the Conservative suggested his reliance on advisers was a “deflection mechanism”.
The televised committee hearing began with the former Conservative leader swearing to tell the truth on the Bible.
“I’m here to say to you, hand on heart, I did not lie to the House,” he said.
“When those statements were made, they were made in good faith and on the basis of what I honestly knew and believed at the time.”
He defended various rule-breaking events during the coronavirus pandemic, including his birthday party for which he was fined, as being “necessary for work purposes”.
But questioned about a large gathering in the No 10 garden, Johnson said: “People who say that we were partying in lockdown simply do not know what they are talking about.”
Johnson could be suspended and face a possible by-election if he is found to have committed a contempt of Parliament with his denials of rule-breaking to MPs.
At one point in the hearing, Johnson said that when he insisted to the Commons that the “guidance” had been followed “at all times” in No 10 he should have said it was all “rules” that had been adhered to.
He said he was “misremembering” the line that had been given to the media by staff as the scandal emerged.
Tory MP Costa said: “Some might see your reliance on the reported assurances you received as, and forgive me, as a deflection mechanism to prevent having to answer questions about your knowledge of these gatherings.”
Johnson replied: “No, that would be a completely ridiculous assessment.”
Harman, who Johnson criticised for making “prejudicial” remarks in the past, said it was “hard to understand what the nature of an assurance is when you’ve been there and seen it with your own eyes”.
“If I was going at 100mph and I saw the speedometer saying 100mph, it would be a bit odd, wouldn’t it, if I said someone assured me that I wasn’t, because it is what you’ve seen with your own eyes,” she said.
“Do you actually think we would be entitled to be a bit dismayed about the flimsy nature of this assurance?” she asked.
During his opening remarks, Johnson also took the time to call out his former Special Advisor Dominic Cummings, who claimed to have warned him ahead of time of concerns relating to the events.
Johnson said Cummings’ claims are “unsupported by any documentary evidence” and “plainly cannot be relied on. He has every motive to lie.”
“There can be no doubt that you understood what the rules, and what they were designed to achieve,” said Jenkin during the opening round of questions, in which he pointed to photographic evidence of an event at No 10 Downing St that appears to show several people ignoring social distancing guidelines – which at the time were 2m, or 1m with exceptions.
Proceedings were suspended after around 15 minutes so that Johnson, as well as the other MPs present, could go and vote on Rishi Sunak’s Windsor Framework bill.
Johnson voted against the bill as part of at least a dozen Tory MPs who have defected from the party line.
The Metropolitan Police eventually issued 126 fines for rule breaches in No 10 and Whitehall, with Johnson receiving a single fixed-penalty notice for his birthday party in the Cabinet Room in June 2020.
Proceedings were suspended for a second time at around 3.30pm as MPs once again left to vote on a Public Order Bill.
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‘Government wants to know how much the clean-up bill for Storm Emma is going to cost’
the taxpayer.
@David Sinclair: As opposed to who David, given taxes fund public spending?
@David Sinclair: as opposed to who David does minister Murphy have a money tree out the back of Dáil Éireann that he shakes in case of emergency.
Just clarifying things in case the message fails to get communicated.
@Tom Harpur: Yes they seem to be able to find copious amounts of money when they want to!
@David Sinclair: bad weather damages infrastructure and requires capital investment. They might have to bring forward some repair work. This needs forecasting, what’s the big deal?
I must say though I have extra respect for all the farmers now who helped dig out the more isolated roads. Spare a thought for them when there’s a late start to spring and they need support to feed their livestock.
Not as much as cleaning up the tidal wave of corruption that besets this once fine nation!
On another matter I see the comments on Anglo Irish Banking enquiry into Siteserve and other matters has already been suspended!
@Jarlath Murphy: Shallow and tired click-bait. Ata boy Jarlath.
@Jarlath Murphy: All aboard the censorship. No one is allowed to question the slurping activities of the fat pigs at the trough.
@MK76: Yet you felt compelled to respond?
Shallow and tired, like the hackneyed
Strategic Communications Unit Mess?
@Patricia McCarthy: They have their pathetically sad sycophantic acolytes defending their excesses, as they wat in solemn servitude for an opportunity to slurp at the trough!
Sad specimens!
@Jarlath Murphy: Ah, sure that’s more of it now Jarlath. Yaaaaaaawn.
@MK76: while pretending not to care you still feel compelled to respond?
@Jarlath Murphy: Just trying to help someone who is clearly craving attention Jarlath. The content of your messages are utter tripe, but maybe you’re just lonely.
@MK76: Your concern is touching, perhaps I can move in with you?
@Jarlath Murphy: when was it a fine nation?
@Jarlath Murphy: Couldn’t listen to your empty rhetoric and opaque political musings, but there’s someone for everyone, so hang in there.
@MK76: They say there’s a match for a beetle and you’ve clearly found yours!
In the meantime I hear they are planning on rebranding the Strategic Communications Unit.
Can you confirm?
@Ohhh_reeally: Before you clearly!
@Jarlath Murphy: How would I be able to conf…….wait a minute….
Jarlath, you rascal you. You’re intimating I’m somehow part of FGs communications unit, because I’m calling you out for your moronic posts.
You’re as clever as you are original. How are you still single?
@MK76: What you mean your not on the pay roll!
How disappointing!
For you!
@MK76: AK47 does a lot of yawning but can’t seem to just close his bullying gob for its own absence of sense defending this joke of a government, nit picking as usual while ignoring all the other articles on the journal; Macabe,spin and the hse mess. Go off to sleep you must have insomnia worrying about your peacock Leo. Say goodnight to @Frank Murphy for me ;(
@Jarlath Murphy: Rebranding SCUT? No. I hope not. It should remain as SCUT. Strategic Communication Unit Trolls.
Such an appropriate title.
@MK76: AK47= moronic yawn
@Declan: There you are Jarlath. Declan and yourself seem like a match made in heaven.
@MK76: Don’t worry, you got to believe that there’s someone for you!
Just hold on in there, you may end up with a rich bankster, a bulging pocket full of water options and a very short cough!
Alternatively you may even get elected!
@Patricia McCarthy:
General Independent Managerial Processors
Not sure what that will be shortened too?
They don’t wanna be asking The Gardaí how much it’ll be, figure they’ll get back would be either 76trillion euro or a fiver
We pay taxes. Deal with it.
@Tony Joyce: ‘HOUSING MINISTER EOGHAN Murphy today expressed his appreciation for the “whole-of-government” support during the severe weather last week.
While he acknowledged the situation is not over for everyone around the country, the minister told his Cabinet colleagues that the management of the cold weather conditions “went to plan”.
He should get a t shirt with a hand slapping his back. It woudl save him having to do it himself all the time. Does this guy ever stfu about how good he and the govermnemt are?
Didn’t cost a penny in my estate r any estate I’d say as no council worker to be seen…ah we have to keep the main roads etc our number one priority…surely they could provide more resources/funding for estates so people can get around and get about…
@Gareth Fitzpatrick:
Alternatively you could set up a resistance committee and buy a few shovels. There is no law against getting up off your arse and doing something to contribute
@Nick Allen:
Residents*
@Nick Allen: I and most of the neighbours that were young enough all did that…your smartarse comment is really appreciated..
@Nick Allen: I and most of the neighbours that were young enough all did that…your smart comment is really appreciated…
@Gareth Fitzpatrick:
Then what are you moaning about?
@Nick Allen: are you for real?? I’m so called moaning because why isn’t there enough resources for the council to do more I’m lucky enough to have a job…if they where given more funding they would be able to clear roads in estates so people Can get around…why should residents have to do it all?? I’m far from lazy but surely it would be under there job remit to do more locally??
Gov ain’t worried about how much their spin unit costs, not worried about how much their expensive 2040 and similar launches cost, not worried about how much their own advertising and self promotion costs, but worried about how much support they have to give out to the plebs after the storm and how much that’s going to inconvenience them.
After their spin unit failure and resultant bad publicity, gov wants to appear to be more honest with the public now, but the leopard doesn’t change it’s spots, their response will be to try harder to fool the nation!
The incompetent gov don’t seem to worry how much it’s gonna cost when it comes to their own salaries, very generous expenses, exorbitant pensions, extra payments for appearing on various gov committees, and ridiculous compensation packages.
Mattie McGrath TD and his family were out all during the snow clearing roads and helping stranded drivers with their heavy equipment at their own expense . Its great to see a politician talking the talk as well as walking the walk.
@Naoimh Ó Murchadha: lol dont kid yourself. A bill will go to the council. TDs arent in the charity business and the machinery and operators dont work on fresh air.
@Naoimh Ó Murchadha: He mustn’t have been able to get out to any funerals.
@Naoimh Ó Murchadha: Yes I heard about that because he and his organisation made danm sure to put out plenty of photos and social media updates about it. Meanwhile lots of ordinary people did stuff quietly and without a fuss.
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