22nd March, the Commons Privileges Comittee investigation into Partygate

[DuncinToffee]

Live on BBC Parliament 2-6pm

Some background information

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-62009458

https://news.sky.com/story/partygate-inquiry-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-investigation-into-boris-johnson-12805474

https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/privileges-committee-investigation-boris-johnson

https://twitter.com/AdamWagner1/status/1638477838079651840?s=20

The Privilege Committee evidence is here:

Really brings home the fact that Johnson was never assured that "all guidance was followed" and in fact everyone around him was saying that it probably wasn't. Absolutely absurd for him to claim nonetheless that he believed until Sue Gray's report that it was

https://twitter.com/AdamBienkov/status/1638475479870062592?s=20

I'm struggling to come up with a way this one is in the rules..."

"Martin's worried about leaks of PM having a piss up and to be fair I don't think it's unwarranted"

https://twitter.com/DinahGLRoseKC/status/1638470053216567298?s=20

My first prediction:
Boris Johnson will do much better than expected. He's had plenty of time to prepare. He's very well-advised. And he's at his best with his back to the wall.

Thanks Duncin.

If he doesn't get off, the hard-right press will go bonkers.

Dorries will be inconsolable.

This is an excellent thread Duncin... thank youuuuuu

Thanks Duncin.

It will be interesting to see if BJ attends at 2pm on the date. Doesn't everyone remember the 5pm covid briefings, he was always late.

Oh god, Andrea Leadsom on politics live. I am officially a grumpy old woman, she is irritating the hell out of me.

*on the dot (not date)

https://twitter.com/lewis_goodall/status/1638500103764705281?s=20

A reminder to the crucial background of all this. For months No10 denied to the media and public that any rule breaking parties/gatherings took place. Today a former PM has to answer for four hours, fighting for his political life, about events they told us didn’t even happen.

Important & revealing. The committee is not an independent political entity. It was asked to investigate by the Commons. Its rules are laid down by the Commons, in resolution and precedent. When Johnson challenges its legitimacy, he is challenging the legitimacy of parliament.

twitter.com/IanDunt/status/1638503019447738371?s=20

Susie Dent

Word of the day is ‘circumbendibus’ (17th century): anything that deliberately goes round and round without ever getting to the point.

I'd forgotten that Johnson will have his legal team in with him, and confer with if he wants.

But also he's apparently hoping to have sone supporters in with him.

And thank you @DuncinToffee

I thought I read somewhere that they can't advise him in any way?

Maybe I have that wrong!

I think I read the same Roussette, something about him being flanked by his legal team without them advising?

Blah! Now I can't find where I read that! There are so many similar articles with similar titles.

Johnson can confer with his barrister and the barrister can pass notes. What the barrister can not do is answer on behalf of Johnson.

I am having the same problem

Hmmm.... interesting article on Lord Pannick who is representing BJ. He is probably, if not definitely, the most expensive lawyer in the country. BJ won't care, he ain't paying.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/mar/20/who-is-lord-pannick-boris-johnsons-partygate-barrister

(Is anyone else confused about links on MN now? Can we leave out the double brackets?)

That makes sense.

I bet he wished he could take the 5th.

Anyway, who are his supporters likely to be? If allowed.

I want Lord Pannick to have a bad case of diarrhoea and have to keep leaving the room allowing BJ to go off piste and ramble.

If Lord Pannick is there, I have no idea if he will be!

My meeting has been cancelled due to illness (Covid is still very much around) so I could watch it, still not sure if I will.

Ian Dunt is going to live tweet