According to The Times:
The Cabinet Office has passed concerns to the Metropolitan Police and Thames Valley police after several visits to the prime minister’s grace and favour residence — as well as new allegations about his behaviour in Downing Street — were highlighted during preparations for a public inquiry into the pandemic.
The privileges committee, which is investigating claims that Johnson misled parliament over lockdown-breaking parties, has been informed. Johnson was made aware of the concerns last week and has since written to the Cabinet Office denying rule breaking.
A Cabinet Office spokesman said: “Information came to light during the process of preparing evidence for submission to the Covid inquiry. It was identified as part of the normal disclosure review of potentially relevant documents being undertaken by the legal team 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.”
No one is above the law, nevertheless this reeks of political vindictiveness. The Cabinet Office answers to the Prime Minister. Is it really conceivable they would act without Rishi’s knowledge?
UPDATE: Statement from Boris’s office is combative:
The assertion by the Cabinet Office that there have been further Covid rule breaches is totally untrue.
Lawyers have examined the events in question and advised that they were lawful.
No contact was made with Mr Johnson before these incorrect allegations were made both to the police and to the Privileges Committee. This is both bizarre and unacceptable.
For whatever political purpose, it is plain that a last ditch attempt is being made to lengthen the Privileges Committee investigation as it was coming to a conclusion and to undermine Mr Johnson.
Mr Johnson’s lawyers have tonight written to the police forces involved to explain in detail why the Cabinet Office is entirely wrong in its assertions.
The events in question were all within the rules either because they were held outdoors or came within another lawful exception. They include regular meetings with civil servants and advisers.
It appears some within government have decided to make unfounded suggestions both to the police and to the Privileges Committee.
Many will conclude that this has all the hallmarks of yet another politically motivated stitch up.
“The Cabinet Office has not made any assessment or conducted any investigation of the material that has been passed to the police. Ministers played no role in deciding whether the information should be handed over to the police. The police were first contacted on 16th May prior to any Minister being made aware. The decision to contact the police and the subsequent decision to share the information was not made by Ministers but by officials acting in line with the Civil Service Code.”
