Who was at Boris Johnson’s Chequers party? Boris camp panicking over latest Partygate claims

Boris Johnson’s camp is in panic mode over recent claims of doable rule-breaking at Chequers throughout Covid, prompting the sacking of the ex-prime minister’s attorneys and a public lambasting of Rishi Sunak’s authorities.

The latest furore centres on allegations that as much as a dozen gatherings at Chequers and No 10 have been held throughout lockdown after new particulars have been referred to the police by the Cabinet Office.

There is now fevered hypothesis about who may need been at the alleged gatherings, together with Mr Johnson and spouse Carrie’s closest associates.

Among these identified to be mates of the couple embrace journalist Alex Wickham, the previous Johnson adviser Henry Newman and long-time spokesman Ross Kempsell – stated to be the ex-PM’s tennis companion and reportedly in line for a peerage in his resignation honours record. All three have been approached by The Independent.

In a plot twist worthy of the stage, the gatherings have been highlighted by Mr Johnson’s personal government-appointed attorneys who have been trawling by means of the ex-PM’s diaries in preparation for the forthcoming Covid inquiry. The new claims at the moment are being assessed by each Scotland Yard and Thames Valley Police.

Mr Johnson, who sacked his authorized group on the spot, is known to be each “furious” and “in despair” about getting dragged into recent questions on Partygate – and doesn’t assume he did something fallacious, in keeping with one supply. Another good friend stated the ex-PM was offended and nervous concerning the Cabinet Office passing on proof to police.

The row has sparked a Westminster guessing sport about who might have visited Mr Johnson at the grace-and-favour Buckinghamshire mansion between June 2020 and May 2021 – the dates being regarded at by police.

It additionally raises new scrutiny over these near Mr Johnson and his spouse Carrie who might have been invited to the home close to Aylesbury throughout the interval in query.

The diaries handed to Cabinet Office officers reveal visits by household and mates to Chequers throughout the pandemic, in keeping with The Times, which first reported the story.

The former PM’s sister Rachel Johnson has prompt she visited throughout the Covid pandemic – telling LBC this week that “as far as I’m aware, all the rules were followed whenever I went to Chequers”.

But she wouldn’t elaborate on when she was there and what kind of gatherings may need been held during times of Covid curbs.

Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, a Johnson loyalist, informed GB News he had visited Chequers along with his household throughout the pandemic, however that the assembly was “entirely within the rules”.

He stated: “I was invited there with my children, entirely in accordance with the rules. Another senior government minister was going to come but the prime minister cancelled him because you were only allowed to have one family present at the time.”

Mr Rees-Mogg additionally revealed a cricket match passed off. “I would also say that one of my children after lunch bowled out the prime minister and removed his middle stump, but that would be boasting.”

Chequers has been the scene for a lot of vital conferences hosted by prime ministers. In July 2020, Mr Johnson used a dinner there to ask then-Treasury adviser Allegra Stratton to hitch as his press secretary, in keeping with the Daily Mail.

And former BBC chair Richard Sharp confirmed that he dined with Mr Johnson and his distant cousin Sam Blyth at Chequers in May 2021, after he had been confirmed as the federal government’s alternative for the highest function at the broadcaster.

England was in nationwide lockdown between late March and June 2020. In June, individuals have been permitted to fulfill exterior in teams of as much as six, and in July hospitality companies have been reopened and gatherings as much as 30 have been legally permitted.

That September, restrictions have been reimposed and “the rule of six” as soon as once more utilized earlier than additional leisure on a three-tier, regional foundation. In November, a second nationwide lockdown was imposed and other people have been banned from assembly these not of their “support bubble”.

In December one other tiered system was reintroduced, earlier than one other nationwide lockdown in January 2021 which allowed individuals to fulfill solely below assist bubbles.

In March 2021, England started a phased exit from lockdown, beginning with “rule of six” gatherings in March earlier than all limits on social contacts have been lifted in July.

Mr Johnson additionally used Chequers to recuperate after he was hospitalised when severely unwell with Covid in April 2020. It later emerged throughout the Partygate scandal that Carrie Johnson had been primarily based at Chequers throughout the time of the primary, March 2020 lockdown.

The PM was additionally “commuting” to No 10 throughout the interval between 16 and 27 March 2020. Downing Street insisted that every one guidelines have been adopted, regardless of steerage in opposition to journey to second properties.

Former adviser Dominic Cummings has beforehand prompt the Partygate investigation ought to have regarded at Chequers. Asked by UnHerd if there have been events at the nation mansion, he stated: “So people say.”

On the file, Mr Johnson’s spokesperson dismissed the brand new claims of gatherings as “totally untrue” and stated Cabinet Office officers determined to make “unfounded suggestions both to the police and to the privileges committee”.

The former prime minister accused authorities officers of constructing “bizarre and unacceptable” claims, main No 10 to disclaim that Mr Johnson was the sufferer of a “politically motivated stitch-up” – including that no minister was concerned in sanctioning the file. 

Running alongside all of that is the cross-party privileges committee which continues to be contemplating whether or not Mr Johnson misled parliament and, in that case, what sanction can be acceptable.

It has paused its findings to think about this week’s developments however it’s understood that MPs assume it’s secure to proceed with its report, solely delaying issues “by a week or two”.