Boris Johnson misled British lawmakers over lockdown-breaking parties in Downing Street, the residence and office of the prime minister, during the Covid-19 pandemic, a powerful committee concluded on Thursday, releasing publicly the findings that prompted Mr. Johnson’s angry resignation from Parliament last week.
The lengthy document, produced by the House of Commons privileges committee, offered a damning verdict on Mr. Johnson’s conduct, honesty and integrity, concluding that his conduct was deliberate and that he had committed “a serious contempt” of the House.
“We came to the view that some of Mr. Johnson’s denials and explanations were so disingenuous that they were by their very nature deliberate attempts to mislead the Committee and the House, while others demonstrated deliberation because of the frequency with which he closed his mind to the truth,” the report said.
Mr. Johnson was sent a draft of the report last week and promptly resigned from the House of Commons, characterizing the committee investigating him as a “kangaroo court” bent on a politically motivated witch hunt against him.
In fact, most of its members are from the Conservative Party, which Mr. Johnson led until last year, and two are prominent supporters of Brexit, his flagship policy.
Persons:
Boris Johnson, Johnson’s, “, Johnson, Brexit
Organizations:
Conservative Party
Locations:
Downing