The silence of Sir Bernard: Leading Partygate inquisitor effectively in hiding for a third day over claims he attended a lockdown-busting event
- Sir Bernard Jenkin maintained his silence for third day over Covid party rumour
- Read Boris Johnson’s first column for the Daily Mail by clicking HERE
One of Boris Johnson’s leading Partygate inquisitors was effectively in hiding for a third day yesterday over claims that he attended a lockdown-busting event.
Sir Bernard Jenkin failed to break his silence again despite repeated requests for comment.
The Tory grandee is reported to have attended a drinks party for his wife’s birthday, organised by Commons Deputy Speaker Dame Eleanor Laing in December 2020, while London was in Tier 2 measures, restricting indoor mixing.
Scotland Yard has said it is considering a complaint reported to it about the event.
A police spokesman said: ‘The Met received a third-party report following media reporting of alleged breaches of the Health Protection Regulations.
Sir Bernard Jenkin is reported to have attended a drinks party for his wife’s birthday, organised by Commons Deputy Speaker Dame Eleanor Laing in December 2020
Partygate committee member Sir Bernard Jenkin takes a dip in the sea at Bournemouth in 2006
‘There is no investigation and officers have not been in contact with the Speaker’s Office about this matter.’
Sir Bernard’s wife is Tory peer Baroness Jenkin of Kennington and the gathering is claimed to have been for her 65th birthday party, where drinks and cake were allegedly served.
Sources claimed social distancing ‘went out the window’ at the gathering and that Sir Bernard was spotted drinking alcohol.
He initially said he ‘did not attend any drinks parties during lockdown’.
But asked whether he drank at the event to mark his wife’s birthday, Sir Bernard told the Guido Fawkes website, ‘I don’t recall’, before hanging up.
He did not respond to further inquiries yesterday.
Mr Johnson has called on him to resign from the privileges committee, which this week found the former prime minister had deliberately misled the Commons over gatherings in Downing Street during the Covid-19 pandemic.
On Wednesday night, Mr Johnson wrote to the committee’s chairman, Labour MP Harriet Harman, saying that Sir Bernard ‘can no longer be held to have been a valid judge or investigator in these proceedings’.
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