Papers respond to Johnson’s Partygate hearing
Thursday’s main headlines were dominated by coverage of Boris Johnson’s appearance before the Privileges Committee where he faced questions around the Partygate probe.
During the hearing, lasting over 3 hours, Johnson made various statements and key points in response to an often heated grilling by the committee:
- In his opening statement, Johnson said: “I am here to say to you, hand on heart, I did not lie to the House. When those statements [in Parliament] were made, they were made in good faith and on the basis of what I knew and believed at the time.”
- He claimed the committee were only publishing “incriminating” evidence against him
- “If this committee were to find me in contempt of Parliament having come and done something so utterly insane and contrary to my beliefs and principles as to come here, to come to Parliament and wittingly lie, I think that would not only be unfair but I think it would be wrong.”
- Of the leaving drinks party, Johnson said, “It was necessary because two senior members of staff, the effective chief of staff and the director of communications, were about to leave the building.
- Two of Johnson’s ex-senior aides replied “no” when asked whether or not they had assured the former PM that all Covid guidance had been followed in Downing Street.
- Johnson said that the close quarters of No 10 and its working environment meant that social distancing was maintained “where possible”, but it could not have always been “perfectly observed”.
Below are the main headlines in response to the hearing. Unless otherwise linked, headlines are taken from the print front page publications on 23/03/2023.
Johnson besieged but defiant
The Telegraph
‘Flimsy’ Partygate answers leave Johnson on the brink
The Guardian
Boris: hand on heart I did not lie to the house
Daily Express
Johnson fights for his future
The Times
Johnson in peril after angry clashes with inquiry
iNews
Boris comes out swinging on Partygate: Johnson loses his cool in three-hour showdown with committee as he denies lying to Commons about No10 gatherings, says leaving dos were ‘essential’ – and rejects ‘nonsense’ claims he failed to question rule breaches
Tetchy ex-PM accused of ‘deflection mechanism’ in icy exchange with Tory MP
Boris Johnson clashes with MPs over Partygate denials
Boris Johnson wants to forget partygate, but will parliament let him?
You can watch the full hearing here.
