Boris Johnson Has Not Yet Been Contacted By Met Police Over Partygate Allegations
The Met are yet to contact the Prime Minister in their investigation into the partygate allegations (Alamy)
2 min read
Number 10 has confirmed the prime minister is yet to be contacted by the Metropolitan Police as part of their investigation into alleged gatherings in Downing Street during the coronavirus lockdown.
Last night it was confirmed that around 50 people believed to have attended the 12 events in Downing Street being looked at would be sent a questionnaire by Scotland Yard asking them to give their account.
It is believed this could include Boris Johnson, but his official spokesperson confirmed he has not been contacted so far by officers as part of Operation Hillman to detail his recollection of the “partygate” saga.
The Met said its officers would begin speaking to people by the end of the week, so the Prime Minister may yet be asked to respond in the coming days.
His spokesperson told reporters that Number 10 “would look to confirm contact of this sort” due to the high level of public interest in the matter, however they suggested it still “remains a hypothetical scenario”.
Announcing news of the questionnaires being sent the Metropolitan Police said: ”This document, which asks for an account and explanation of the recipient's participation in an event, has formal legal status and must be answered truthfully.
"Recipients are informed that responses are required within seven days. In most cases contact is being made via email."
It is understood both Johnson and his wife Carrie will be contacted in the course of the inquiry, as will a number of other staff members in Downing Street.
Asked about the matter at a briefing in Brussels this morning, the prime minister said: "That process must be completed and I am looking forward to it being completed."
But one of his predecessors John Major has accused Johnson and Number 10 officials of having broken the law and damaging Parliament's reputation and made the the government look "distinctly shifty” with the partygate saga.
Delivering a keynote address at the Institute for Government, Major indicated he believes the current Prime Minister should resign if he is found to have misled Parliament by stating Covid guidance was “followed at all times” at the despatch box last December.
“Day after day the public was asked to believe the unbelievable,” Major said.
“Ministers were sent out to defend the indefensible – making themselves look gullible or foolish,” the former Prime Minister added.
Asked for a response to the comments, Johnson’s spokesperson said they “simply wouldn’t seek to comment” due to the ongoing police investigation.
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