Boris Johnson referred to police over new claim of Covid rule breaches
Met Police says it is ‘currently assessing’ details it has received relating to incidents between June 2020 and May 2021
Boris Johnson has been reported to the police by the Cabinet Office over fresh claims that he may have broken lockdown rules during the pandemic.
Information has been passed to two forces over alleged visits from the former prime minister’s friends to Chequers as well as potential breaches within Downing Street, The Times reported.
The Metropolitan Police said it was “currently assessing” details it had received relating to incidents between June 2020 and May 2021.
A spokesman 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.”
It was also suggested the move was “politically motivated” and the former prime minister had been given no notice of the report.
The Cabinet Office 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 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.”
In a statement given to The Times, Thames Valley Police also confirmed they were looking into a report of potential breaches of the rules at Chequers.
They told the paper: “On Thursday we received a report of potential breaches of the health protection regulations between June 2020 and May 2021 at Chequers, Buckinghamshire. We are currently assessing this information.”
It comes as the Commons privileges committee investigates whether Mr Johnson misled Parliament over lockdown-breaking at No10.
The committee is due to report next month. If it recommends suspending the prime minister for more than 10 days he could face a by-election for his west London seat.
Labour called for taxpayer-funded legal support for Mr Johnson’s participation in the partygate inquiry to come to an end and said he had “serious questions to answer".
“I just believe it's wrong that the taxpayer is continuing to fund Boris Johnson's legal defence here. Rishi Sunak should bring that to an end," shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson said.
The Government's bill for Mr Johnson's legal fees in the committee’s investigation is an estimated £222,000.
Information has been passed to two forces over alleged visits from the former prime minister’s friends to Chequers as well as potential breaches within Downing Street, The Times reported.
The Metropolitan Police said it was “currently assessing” details it had received relating to incidents between June 2020 and May 2021.
A spokesman 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.”
It was also suggested the move was “politically motivated” and the former prime minister had been given no notice of the report.
The Cabinet Office 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 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.”
In a statement given to The Times, Thames Valley Police also confirmed they were looking into a report of potential breaches of the rules at Chequers.
They told the paper: “On Thursday we received a report of potential breaches of the health protection regulations between June 2020 and May 2021 at Chequers, Buckinghamshire. We are currently assessing this information.”
It comes as the Commons privileges committee investigates whether Mr Johnson misled Parliament over lockdown-breaking at No10.
The committee is due to report next month. If it recommends suspending the prime minister for more than 10 days he could face a by-election for his west London seat.
Labour called for taxpayer-funded legal support for Mr Johnson’s participation in the partygate inquiry to come to an end and said he had “serious questions to answer".
“I just believe it's wrong that the taxpayer is continuing to fund Boris Johnson's legal defence here. Rishi Sunak should bring that to an end," shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson said.
The Government's bill for Mr Johnson's legal fees in the committee’s investigation is an estimated £222,000.