Boris Johnson accuses privileges committee’s top Tory MP of ‘monstrous hypocrisy’
Jenkin #Jenkin
Boris Johnson has accused the privileges committee’s most senior Tory MP of “monstrous hypocrisy” over alleged breaches of Covid rules.
On the eve of the committee’s report into whether he deliberately misled Parliament over partygate, Mr Johnson said the timing of claims about Sir Bernard Jenkin was “incredible and nauseating”.
Guido Fawkes, a political blog, reported that Sir Bernard attended a drinks party for his wife, Baroness Jenkin, on Dec 8 2020, when London was in Tier 2 lockdown restrictions.
In a letter to Dame Harriet Harman, who chairs the committee – seen by The Telegraph – Mr Johnson said: “The reports suggest alcohol was served at the event and that it broke the rules on numbers. To my knowledge, as of this point, he has made no attempt to deny the allegations.
“And yet at no time has he seen fit to tell you, or the House of Commons, about this alleged gathering. He has repeatedly insisted that any such breaches are a matter of the utmost gravity for any public servant.”
Claiming that Sir Bernard was no longer a “valid judge”, he added: “If indeed it is the case that he broke the rules himself – and knowingly broke them – Sir Bernard is guilty of flagrant and monstrous hypocrisy.
“But I am afraid it is far worse than that. He has just voted to expel me from the House of Commons because he says – falsely – that I concealed from the House my knowledge of illicit events.”
The former prime minister insisted Mr Jenkin, who has yet to publicly comment on the reports, “should have recused himself”.
The findings of the committee’s investigation into Mr Johnson, which are expected to be widely critical, will be published at around 9am on Thursday.
Earlier, the former prime minister said Sir Bernard had “no choice” but to resign if claims he attended a drinks party in breach of Covid restrictions were found to be true. The pair clashed while Mr Johnson was giving evidence to the privilege committee’s investigation.
It is claimed that Sir Bernard attended a gathering to celebrate his wife’s birthday that featured drinks, cake and nibbles. The event was said to have been hosted by Dame Eleanor Laing, the deputy speaker who admitted that she held a “business meeting” that evening, according to Guido Fawkes.
She told the blog: “At the beginning of the pandemic I took advice on how many could be present in a room, I had the room measured and I kept a two-metre ruler so that I could always verify that nobody who was working here was put at risk.”
In an exchange published by Guido Fawkes, Sir Bernard denied attending “any drinks parties during lockdown”.
The Telegraph has approached Sir Bernard for comment.
The Liberal Democrats hit out at a “typical distraction tactic” from Mr Johnson, with Daisy Cooper, the deputy leader, saying: “The Conservative Party is now in a full blown civil war, while people struggle to afford to pay their mortgage or get a GP appointment.
“We need a general election now to finally get rid of this chaotic Conservative government.”
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