Boris Johnson referred to police over new Covid rule-breaking claims

The ex PM's ministerial diary allegedly revealed visits by friends to Chequers during lockdown, ITV News' political correspondent Carl Dinnen and UK Editor Paul Brand have the latest

Boris Johnson has been referred to police over fresh accusations of him breaking Covid lockdown rules.

The former Conservative party leader's ministerial diary allegedly revealed visits by friends to Chequers, his former country home, during the pandemic, The Times first reported.

The Cabinet Office, who discovered the apparent rule-breaking, has passed on its findings to the Metropolitan Police and Thames Valley Police.

The department found what appeared to be notes of several visits to Chequers, in Buckinghamshire, during preparations for a public inquiry into the pandemic, The Times reported.

Lindsay Jackson, who lost a loved one to Covid and is spokesperson for the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice, hit out at the former prime minister, saying he has left a legacy of "lying" and "complete contempt".

Elsewhere, a Cabinet Office spokesperson said: "Information came to light during the process of preparing evidence for submission to the Covid Inquiry.

"It was identified as part of the normal disclosure review of potentially relevant documents being undertaken by the legal team for inquiry witnesses.

"In-line with obligations in the Civil Service Code, this material has been passed to the relevant authorities and it is now a matter for them.

"The privileges committee, which is investigating claims Mr Johnson misled parliament over lockdown-breaking parties, has been informed."

Thames Valley Police confirmed it received a report of "potential breaches of the Health Protection Regulations between June 2020 and May 2021" at Chequers, Buckinghamshire. ITV News has also contacted the Metropolitan Police for a response.

A spokesperson for the force said: "We are currently assessing this information.”

The Metropolitan Police said: “We are in receipt of information from the Cabinet Office passed to us on May 19 2023, which we are currently assessing. It relates to potential breaches of the health protection regulations between June 2020 and May 2021 at Downing Street.”

Mr Johnson was made aware of the concerns last week and has since written to the Cabinet Office denying rule-breaking, according to The Times.

He has previously been investigated by the police after breaking lockdown rules and was ordered to pay a £50 fine.

And ITV News revealed in its 'Partygate' podcast that Mr Johnson joked to Downing Street staff “this is the most unsocially distanced party in the UK right now”, during a boozy Number 10 leaving do.

On Tuesday's allegation, a spokesperson for Mr Johnson said: "Some abbreviated entries in Mr Johnson's official diary were queried by Cabinet Office during preparation for the Covid Inquiry.

"Following an examination of the entries, Mr Johnson's lawyers wrote to the Cabinet Office and Privileges Committee explaining that the events were lawful and were not breaches of any Covid Regulations."

Mr Johnson’s office said he hasn’t been contacted by the police and that the referral by the Cabinet Office is politically motivated.

In a statement, the Privileges Committee said they had received "additional written evidence from the government on the 18 May."

"On 19 May this was sent to Mr Johnson to enable him to respond.

"The Committee will take this evidence and Mr Johnson’s response into account when considering its final report.

"The Committee is making progress with its inquiry expeditiously."

Why did these new allegations come to light?

The fresh claims that Mr Johnson broke lockdown rules came about because his legal advice for the ongoing Covid inquiry is being paid for by the taxpayer.

This means the Cabinet Office was given access to his diary as they are handling the legal advice.

They found the entries and referred the information to police.

Which for Mr Johnson, ITV News UK Editor Paul Brand says, is an unintended consequence.

Labour Deputy Leader Angela Rayner said: “These new allegations are for the police to examine but the government must explain who else knew at the time and why this has only now come to light. 

"The public will be shocked that they're still paying Boris Johnson’s legal bills while he rakes in millions from speaking gigs, all because Rishi Sunak is too weak to put a stop to it.

“The Conservatives are now so preoccupied by their own scandals and haunted by their own failure that they are unable to tackle the problems facing the country."

Lindsay Jackson, spokesperson for charity Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice said: "He lied when he said to our faces that he’d done “all he could” to protect our loved ones.

"He lied again when he said the rules hadn’t been broken in number 10, and he’s lied over and over again since then when he’s denied it.

"He is totally unfit for any form of public service, never mind being the Prime Minister."

What did Boris Johnson really know about Downing Street’s notorious parties? With fresh revelations from our sources, in their own words, listen to the definitive behind-closed-doors story of one of the biggest scandals of our era.