Timeline of the lockdown affair: How Boris Johnson’s Partygate saga has played out over three years
- Boris Johnson finally appeared in front of the privileges committee yesterday
- He insisted that he has not misled Parliament three years after saga began
May 15, 2020: Mr Johnson and his then-fiancee are pictured with staff in the Downing Street garden, alongside bottles of wine and a cheeseboard. It was a month after he had been gravely ill with Covid.
May 20: Around 200 members of staff were invited to a supposed ‘bring your own booze’ party in Downing Street. Mr Johnson was present for around 25 minutes, when he thanked staff.
June 18: Another gathering, this time in the Cabinet Office, and marking the departure of a senior staff member. Sue Gray, who led the report into Partygate, found there was ‘excessive’ alcohol consumption, and a scuffle between two people.
June 18: Mr Johnson’s 56th birthday, in which an ally tried to deflect criticism by claiming the then PM was ‘ambushed with a cake’.
Mr Johnson and then-chancellor Rishi Sunak were among those issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice. Mr Johnson told the committee he thought the gathering, in the Cabinet Room, was a ‘completely innocent event’.
May 15, 2020: Mr Johnson and his then-fiancee are pictured with staff in the Downing Street garden, alongside bottles of wine and a cheeseboard
June 18: Mr Johnson’s 56th birthday, in which an ally tried to deflect criticism by claiming the then PM was ‘ambushed with a cake’
November 13: Two gatherings, including one apparently hosted by Ms Symonds in the flat above No 11 Downing Street, marking the departure of special adviser Dominic Cummings. It was days after a fresh national lockdown began in England.
December 18: The Downing St Christmas party in which officials and advisers reportedly made speeches, enjoyed a cheese board, drank together and exchanged secret Santa gifts.
READ MORE: How Boris Johnson’s Partygate showdown played out in front of MPs after Harriet Harman fired the starting gun
Allegra Stratton, Mr Johnson’s then-press secretary, later resigned after a video emerged of her joking about a ‘fictional party’ at a mock press conference.
January 14, 2021: During a third national lockdown, farewell drinks at No 10 marked the departure of two private secretaries. Mr Johnson attended briefly to give a speech.
April 16: The day before the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral – at which the Queen sat alone in adherence to covid rules – two leaving gatherings were held in No 10. Downing Street was later forced to apologise to Buckingham Palace after details emerged of the boozy affairs.
December 1: Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer asks Mr Johnson why a Christmas party was thrown a year earlier in Downing Street as millions were locked down. Mr Johnson said: ‘All guidance was followed completely.’
December 8: Another denial in the Commons from Mr Johnson, who responded to a question about a potential Downing Street party on November 13 by saying: ‘The guidance was followed and the rules were followed at all times.’
Almost three years on, the former Prime Minister is appearing in front of a privileges committee
December 18: Sue Gray brought in to lead the investigation into Partygate claims after the departure of civil servant Simon Case, when it emerged a gathering was held in his office.
April 12, 2022: Downing Street confirms Mr Johnson and Mr Sunak will be fined for breaches of Covid-19 rules at Mr Johnson’s birthday celebrations.
May 25: The Sue Gray report is published. She says many of the gatherings she investigated should not have been allowed to happen.
March 22, 2023: Mr Johnson appears before privileges committee
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