Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has apologised for misleading Parliament over a scandal involving Downing Street parties conducted during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Johnson apologised on Wednesday during a marathon questioning session of the House of Commons’ cross-party Committee of Privileges, according to the Xinhua news agency.
With a Bible in his hands, he said: “Hand on heart, I did not lie to the House.”
During Covid lockdowns, the former Prime Minister revealed that social separation was not “ideal” at Downing Street events.
Yet, he argued that they were “important” work events that were permitted.
Johnson was forced to resign in July of last year as a result of a series of scandals, including “Partygate.”
When the allegations about the Downing Street parties in 2020 and 2021 first surfaced in late 2021, Johnson originally claimed that no regulations had been broken.
He eventually apologised and stated that he had made “misjudgments” by mistaking such parties for work functions.
Responding to a claim on Wednesday that it should have been obvious that such parties broke Covid-19 rules, Johnson said it “must have been equally obvious” to dozens of other senior officials, including incumbent Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
In new evidence published by the parliamentary committee a few hours before the hearing, a government official said Johnson had the opportunity to stop the partying but “allowed the culture to continue”.
The committee will now consider Johnson’s testimony, as well as other evidence, before issuing its decision in the case this summer.
Johnson could be suspended from the House of Commons if the committee finds that he intentionally misled lawmakers, which could result in a by-election in his Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency.
