Boris Johnson live: Ex-PM fights for political future in committee showdown

Independent TV is hosting the prime minister’s appearance before the Privileges Committee live on YouTube.

Ms Harman said her committee was “not relying … and nor will we” rely on the Sue Gray evidence, as she said her committee had collected its own evidence.

Sue Gray last year compiled a report on the the nature and purpose of the lockdown gatherings in Downing Street, including who went to them and whether rules were broken.

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has warned MPs not to interfere or intimidate the Privileges Committee as it considers whether Boris Johnson lied to Parliament.

His warning came as senior Tory Jacob Rees-Mogg labelled the position of the committee’s chairwoman “absurd” and suggested the process was worse than a kangaroo court.

In a message to MPs, the Speaker said: “A very dim view will be taken of any Member who tries to prevent the Committee from carrying out this serious work, or of anyone from outside the House who interferes.”

The email, reported by the Independent, said: “The Committee must be allowed to complete its work without interference, both in relation to the evidence it is taking today and during the time before its report is published.

“I would like to remind you that interference with or intimidation of a committee is potentially a contempt of the House and restraint is appropriate while the committee’s work continues.”

In her opening statement, the chair of the committee Harriet Harman said that without trust in what ministers say “our entire parliamentary democracy is undermined”.

Former cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg is sitting in on the Privileges Committee, joining fellow Tory backbencher Michael Fabricant for Boris Johnson‘s hearing.

Boris Johnson has taken his seat before the committee of MPs investigating whether he knowingly misled parliament over parties in Downing Street during the pandemic.

The Privilege Committee of seven MPs, three Conservatives, three Labour members and an SNP member, has been investigating the background of the former prime minister’s statements to parliament since last year.

Mr Johnson said there is no evidence that he was intentionally misleading, and said any comments were made in “good faith”.

The hearing is expected to last as long as four hours. If the committee finds Mr Johnson lied, they will then decide his punishment; which could be his suspension as MP.

Rishi Sunak is not planning on watching Boris Johnson’s grilling by the Privileges Committee.

The prime minister’s official spokesman said: “He has a busy afternoon. He is welcoming members of the victorious England men’s ICC T20 Cricket World Cup team to Downing Street this afternoon. He will be focused on helping aspiring cricketers.”

Neither has Mr Sunak read Mr Johnson’s defence dossier which suggests the prime minister may be bewildered why he was fined over partygate.

Mr Sunak’s press secretary said: “I don’t believe he has had time to go through what is quite a lengthy dossier.”

Sean O’Grady expects quite the show this afternoon:

I’m still deciding which treats will best accompany Boris Johnson’s appearance before the House of Commons Committee of Privileges. Seeing as he took the biscuit so many times in lockdown, and spent so long cheekily getting away with it, maybe a pack of Jammie Dodgers.

An enormous cake also seems appropriate as we observe the high protest of cakeism in a last-ditch defence of the doctrine that defines his approach to policy choices (and indeed life itself). And, of course, a nice bacon sandwich as we watch the infamous greased piglet of Westminster finally meet his fate.

Sunak says he respects the police’s decision to issue him with a fine for breaching Covid rules and that he apologised.

He says that a Civil Service report concluded he had no prior knowledge of the gathering.

PM adds “he probably doesn’t need me to tell him that because he’s probably spoken to the report’s author more than I have.”

Mr Sunak finishes up by listing what he says is government’s progress on tackling priorities on inflation and energy bills.

He also says the government is tackling NHS waiting lists and has a plan to “stop the boats”.

Starmer rounds up his questions by accusing the government of failing on crime, the NHS and cost of living squeeze.

He says it’s the same thing from Sunak every week: refusing to take responsibility.

Why does he continue to tell the British people “they’ve never had it so good?” he concludes.