Matter referred on 21 April 2022 (conduct of Rt Hon Boris Johnson): Final Report
House of Commons
Committee of Privileges
Matter referred on 21 April 2022 (conduct of Rt Hon Boris Johnson): Final Report
Fifth Report of Session 2022–23
Report, together with formal minutes relating to the report
Ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 15 June 2023
HC 564
Published on 15 June 2023
by authority of the House of Commons
The Committee of Privileges is appointed to consider specific matters relating to privileges referred to it by the House. The scope of any inquiry comprises all matters relevant to the matter referred.
Current membership
- Andy Carter MP (Conservative, Warrington South)
- Alberto Costa MP (Conservative, South Leicestershire)
- Allan Dorans MP (Scottish National Party, Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock)
- Yvonne Fovargue MP (Labour, Makerfield)
- Ms Harriet Harman MP (Labour, Camberwell and Peckham) (Chair)
- Sir Bernard Jenkin MP (Conservative, Harwich and North Essex)
- Sir Charles Walker MP (Conservative, Broxbourne)
Powers
The powers of the Committee are set out in House of Commons Standing Orders, principally in SO No. 148A. These are available on the internet via www.parliament.uk.
Publications
© Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2023. This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament Licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright-parliament.
Committee reports are published on the Committee's website and in print by Order of the House.
Committee staff
The current staff of the Committee are Miguel Boo Fraga (Committee Operations Manager), Dr Robin James (Clerk), Su Panchanathan (Committee Operations Officer), Robi Quigley (Second Clerk), Silas Scott (Media Officer), Duncan Sim (Committee Specialist), and Mike Winter JP (Second Clerk).
The following staff also worked for the Committee during this inquiry: Arvind Gunnoo (former Committee Support Assistant) and Paul Connolly (former Media Officer).
Contacts
All correspondence should be addressed to the Clerk of the Committee of Privileges, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA. The telephone number for general enquiries is 0207 219 1493; the Committee's email address is COMMITTEEOFPRIVILEG@parliament.uk.
Contents
Summary 3 1 Introduction 9 The establishment of this inquiry 9 The importance of this inquiry 9 The procedures in this inquiry 10 The evidence in this inquiry 12 2 The Rules and Guidance, and what Mr Johnson saw or knew 14 Mr Johnson’s knowledge of individual gatherings 14 Gathering on 20 May 2020 14 Gathering on 19 June 2020 18 Gathering on 13 November 2020 21 Gathering on 27 November 2020 24 Gathering on 18 December 2020 27 Gathering on 14 January 2021 29 Other gatherings 31 Arguments advanced by Mr Johnson 32 Mr Johnson’s assertions as to the meaning of the Guidance 32 Mr Johnson’s argument that no-one raised any concerns with him 34 Gatherings: conclusions 35 3 What Mr Johnson was told by others, and what he told the House 38 Mr Johnson’s statements to the House 38 The purported assurances 40 Assurances from Jack Doyle and James Slack 41 Limited scope of assurances from Jack Doyle and James Slack 43 Assurances from others 44 Mr Johnson’s responses to questions about his statements 46 Purported assurances: conclusions 50 4 Misleading the House 54 Misleading: conclusions 55 Was it a contempt? 57 Recommended sanction 59 5 Mr Johnson’s resignation as an MP and his attack upon the Committee 62 Mr Johnson’s resignation 62
Conclusions and recommendations 67 Annex 1: Process and procedure 78 Annex 2: Statements by Mr Johnson to the House regarding Covid compliance in No. 10 84 Annex 3: Purported response of Mr Johnson to the Committee’s warning letter 90 Appendix 1: Photographs of gatherings 96 Appendix 2: Letter from Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP to Sir Charles Walker MP dated 30 March 2023 99 Appendix 3: Mr Johnson’s public statement made on 9 June 2023’ 100 Formal minutes 103 Witness 105 Published written evidence 105 List of Reports from the Committee during the current Parliament 106
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