The extent to which Mr Johnson knew what happened at the dozens of socializing events during the lockdown at government buildings investigated by Sue Gray will be at the heart of the committee’s investigation. Ms Harman, the Labor MP for Camberwell and Peckham who was chosen to lead the commission and inquiry, contacted a number of potential eyewitnesses to the events last month, either directly or through intermediaries. Three former government officials who were contacted spoke to The Telegraph. All three said they believed Mr Johnson had misled parliament – a claim he denied. One said: “Regarding the events, he was definitely at events that broke the lockdown and he knew they were happening and therefore what he told the House was knowingly inaccurate.” Another, when asked if Mr Johnson had misled Parliament, said “absolutely, very well he did”. A third said of the prime minister’s knowledge of lockdown-breaking parties that he “knew what was going on”. The comments are important because if the privileges committee concludes that Mr Johnson misled Parliament, he could face a recall position, which would trigger a by-election in his seat of Uxbridge and South Ruislip – potentially ousting him from Parliament.
