No10 WhatsApps shows panicked response from Partygate - and the warnings Boris Johnson ignored

The slippery former prime minister argues he did not intentionally mislead parliament when he denied rules were broken during deconfinements because he had received assurances of aid Boris Johnson faces a grilling by the Commons Privileges Committee today over Partygate 'lies' (

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Explosive new Partygate evidence has been released showing the No10 rush to defend Boris Johnson and the warnings given to the ex-Prime Minister about drinking in lockdown.

The Commons privileges committee leaked 110 pages of messages and statements from key Downing Street players ahead of its explosive clash with Mr Johnson later today.

The slippery former prime minister argues he did not intentionally mislead parliament when he denied rules had been broken during the lockdowns because he had received assurances of helpers.

But an account shows Mr Johnson was told by senior assistant Martin Reynolds not to say all Covid guidelines had been followed in PMQ number 10 following the Mirror report that Partygate liquors had been happening during the pandemic.

The head of the civil service, Simon Case, categorically denied to the committee that he had ever given such assurances and said he did not know anyone else had.

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The exceptional file also contains messages showing then-#10 spin boss Jack Doyle saying the Mirror would be “bored” of the story if it offered a strong defense to our exclusive story in December 2021 .

And a No10 official testified that Mr Johnson 'had the opportunity to end' the lockdown rallies in Downing Street but 'joined them'.

Boris Johnson at a departure rally in the lobby of the press office at 10 Downing Street during Covid (

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Mr. Johnson will be questioned for up to four hours by the Privileges Committee today on whether he deliberately misled Parliament with his Partygate denials after MPs spent 11 months gathering evidence. /p>

If the committee finds he lied to MPs, he could face a suspension from the Commons or even a by-election if the punishment is severe enough...