UK parliamentary committee requests paperwork for investigation into PM Boris Johnson

A committee of lawmakers has requested diaries, emails, images and cell phone messages from Boris Johnson‘s workplace as a part of an inquiry into whether or not the prime minister misled parliament over COVID-19 lockdown-breaking occasions in Downing Street.

The Privileges Committee will look into whether or not Johnson, who final week stated he would step down following rising strain to take action from a lot of his personal ministers and lawmakers, misled parliament along with his numerous feedback on so-called partygate.

The committee’s investigation was triggered by a vote in parliament.

Convention dictates ministers who’re discovered to have knowingly misled parliament ought to provide their resignation. As Johnson has already stated he’ll step down, such a verdict would solely have an effect on notion of his time in workplace.

Johnson initially instructed parliament that his Downing Street workplace had adopted all lockdown guidelines in the course of the COVID pandemic, just for an inner report to search out it had held a number of alcohol-fuelled events at the moment.

The prime minister was additionally fined by police over a gathering for his 56th birthday. He denies intentionally deceptive parliament, and says he didn’t realise he was breaking the foundations. He has apologised for his conduct.

The committee stated it had written to Johnson and Cabinet Secretary Simon Case to request a variety of paperwork together with the prime minister’s diaries for dates on which gatherings passed off in his Downing Street residence and workplace.

Emails, Whatsapp messages, entry logs for 10 Downing Street, authorized recommendation acquired by Johnson or commissioned by his workplace, and briefing packs ready for the prime minister forward of his appearances in parliament have been additionally among the many paperwork requested by the committee.

It has additionally requested for particulars of any related paperwork identified to have existed which have been subsequently deleted.
The committee stated it anticipated to start oral proof periods after parliament returns from its summer season break in September.