Boris Johnson slapped with damning new Partygate evidence

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Boris Johnson has been slapped with damning new Partygate evidence just hours before his 4-hour grilling in front of the Privileges Committee. Cabinet Secretary Simon Case claims he never told Mr Johnson all rules were followed. In a new dossier of evidence published by the Privileges Committee this morning, Mr Case denied that he gave assurances to the then prime minister that Covid rules or Covid guidance were obeyed at all times in No 10.

In messages between Downing Street and the then communication secretary Jack Doyle, it was revealed that officials were debating how best to defend the parties, one of which took place in Boris Johnson’s flat.

When a No 10 official alerted Jack Doyle to a media report about the parties, Mr Doyle admitted: “I don’t know what we say about the flat”.

The dossier of evidence also saw communications secretary Lee Cain raise concerns about one party, proposed by Boris Johnson’s principal private secretary Martin Reynolds.

Mr Cain says he raised concerns that the garden party in Downing Street would be a “communications risk”.

The newly-published document includes a screenshot of the email in which he did so.

Mr Cain’s written evidence says he and Mr Reynolds discussed whether to go ahead with the event, with Mr Reynolds saying he would speak to the prime minister but “he was sure it was okay”.

Mr Cain also said Dominic Cummings, Johnson’s chief adviser at the time, agreed the gathering “should not take place”.

The former comms director said Mr Cummings pledged to “raise the issue with Martin and the prime minister”.

Mr Cain said Mr Cummings later confirmed that he’d “informed the PM” but they had argued about other issues and “he was clearly very frustrated” .

This goes against Mr Johnson’s evidence, which saw him admit that he did mislead the house but said that his claims were made in “good faith”.

He said he was relying on the incorrect advice of his advisers.

Speaking about the No. 10 Christmas Party, the dossier of evidence published this morning also saw a No. 10 official tell the committee: “[The] Gathering was like a normal Friday but this was beyond a normal Friday.

“Normally there were crisps on Wine Time Friday but this was different with cheese etc.”

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