Liar, liar, BoJo’s party pants on fire
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing new claims that he lied to parliament after photos emerged of him drinking with aides at a lockdown-breaking party in No 10 after he had repeatedly denied there was a party.
The photos show the PM raising a glass at the leaving party for Lee Cain, his director of communications, in November 2020. He can be seen standing in front of a table with several empty bottles of alcohol, including wine and gin.
Mr Johnson was not fined for attending the event despite the police issuing fixed-penalty notices to at least one other person who was present. The fine was issued for the offence of participating in an indoor gathering with more than two people.
The emergence of the photographs comes before the publication of a report by Sue Gray, a senior Whitehall official, into lockdown-breaking parties.
Publication of the report will intensify pressure on Mr Johnson, to resign. He is facing an investigation into allegations he knowingly lied to MPs in the Commons.
In December, Labour MP Catherine West asked him if there had been a party in No 10 on the day of Mr Cain’s departure. Mr Johnson denied a party had taken place, adding that “whatever happened, the guidance was followed and the rules were followed at all times”. He repeated the claim when asked again a month later.