Boris Johnson has been referred to the police by the Cabinet Office over new claims he broke COVID lockdown guidelines.
The former prime minister’s ministerial diary has revealed visits by buddies to Chequers throughout the pandemic.
The visits to the grace-and-favour residence had been highlighted throughout preparations for a public inquiry into COVID.
Politics Live: Boris Johnson’s diary exhibits buddies visiting him at Chequers throughout lockdown
The Cabinet Office has handed issues to the Metropolitan Police and Thames Valley Police.
The privileges committee, which is investigating claims that Mr Johnson misled parliament over partygate, has additionally been knowledgeable, based on The Times which first reported on the story.
Sources near Mr Johnson known as the referral “clearly politically motivated” and claimed the Cabinet Office didn’t give him any discover “so he could put forward the facts before the report was made”.
He has been suggested by attorneys that the occasions had been lawful.
A spokesperson for Mr Johnson mentioned: “Some abbreviated entries in Mr Johnson’s official diary had been queried by Cabinet Office throughout preparation for the COVID Inquiry.
“Following an examination of the entries, Mr Johnson’s lawyers wrote to the Cabinet Office and Privileges Committee explaining that the events were lawful and were not breaches of any COVID Regulations.”
Police are presently “assessing” issues, however a proper investigation has not but been launched.
An announcement from the Metropolitan Police mentioned the issues had been handed to them on May 19 and it relates “to potential breaches of the Health Protection Regulations between June 2020 and May 2021 at Downing Street”.
A Cabinet Office spokesperson mentioned: “Information came to light during the process of preparing evidence for submission to the COVID Inquiry.
“It was recognized as a part of the conventional disclosure evaluate of doubtless related paperwork being undertaken by the authorized crew for inquiry witnesses.
“In-line with obligations in the Civil Service Code, this material has been passed to the relevant authorities and it is now a matter for them.”
Johnson ‘ought to take into account his place as MP’
The Liberal Democrats have known as for Mr Johnson to think about his place as an MP.
Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper mentioned: “It’s outrageous that rumours of alleged rule-breaking by Boris Johnson are still being drip fed to the public.
“The incontrovertible fact that it is one rule for them and one rule for the remainder of us nonetheless triggers a uncooked sense of injustice in hundreds of thousands of individuals.
“Sunak must make sure that not a single penny more of taxpayer money is spent on Johnson’s legal fund; and Johnson should finally do one decent thing and consider his position as an MP.”
Source: information.sky.com”