. there, and that was jack doyle.ng week you can see that jack doyle says that he he confirms that he he says, you know, what's up to me ? i've been know, what's up to me? i've been assured you can say, i been assured you can say, i been assured that there was no party in the rules were broken. so he says that again to me . i also says that again to me. i also then rang james slack who and both jack and james slack of people have the utmost regard for and i believe they would be completely straight with me about what happened and they both said that the rules had not been broken and the reason i didn't ask a lawyer or another senior service , they were senior civil service, they were the been there. yes the people who'd been there. yes and were the direct they and they were the direct they could about the could give a view about the legality of that event that i did. i didn't think a normal eyewitness would be able to do . eyewitness would be able to do. okay. well when you decided to rely on the assurances that you'v

no, the people like jack doyle , the people like jack doyle, press officers, junior press officers ,e who he officers, young people who he himself had appointed. i have to say, i found his response at times slightly rambling, repetitive , angry, irritable repetitive, angry, irritable bill. but the big question is , bill. but the big question is, can he survive this? i think he probably will. give me your thoughts, farage at gb news dot uk. i think he'll survive it because they will not. it seems to me absolutely be able to prove that he lied to parliament. that's why , i guess parliament. that's why, i guess to get a more dispassionate , i'm to get a more dispassionate, i'm joined by gb news political reporter olivia utley . olivia, reporter olivia utley. olivia, what's the talk of the road post? this this grilling, i guess, is what we can call it. well, yes, there's no feeling that boris johnson sort of covered himself in glory, but nor is there a feeling that it was an absolute fiasco for him on a number of issues. it felt like boris actually had the upper ground. the committee wer

no, the people like jack doyle , the people like jack doyle, press officers, junior press officers ,ple who he officers, young people who he himself had appointed. i have to say, i found his response at times slightly rambling, repetitive , angry, irritable repetitive, angry, irritable bill. but the big question is , bill. but the big question is, can he survive this? i think he probably will. give me your thoughts, farage at gb news dot uk. i think he'll survive it because they will not. it seems to me absolutely be able to prove that he lied to parliament. that's why , i guess parliament. that's why, i guess to get a more dispassionate , i'm to get a more dispassionate, i'm joined by gb news political reporter olivia utley . olivia, reporter olivia utley. olivia, what's the talk of the road post? this this grilling, i guess, is what we can call it. well, yes, there's no feeling that boris johnson sort of covered himself in glory, but nor is there a feeling that it was an absolute fiasco for him on a number of issues. it felt like boris actually had the upper ground. the committee w

it was jack doyle. because, and this _ in number ten? it was jack doyle.t, i hadn't been at the thing, i was relying on what i thought was the honest and well—intentioned descriptions of this from my trusted advisers. but clearly there was a difference of opinion. i commissioned the cabinet secretary to conduct an inquiry, thatis secretary to conduct an inquiry, that is the most important thing that is the most important thing that i did. that that is the most important thing that i did. �* ., ., that i did. at the end of that prime minister's questions, _ that i did. at the end of that prime minister's questions, you - that i did. at the end of that prime minister's questions, you had i that i did. at the end of that prime | minister's questions, you had been asked _ minister's questions, you had been asked multiple times about the issues — asked multiple times about the issues of— asked multiple times about the issues of gatherings in downing street. — issues of gatherings in downing street, but at no point did you tell the house — street, but at no poin

if you want further evidence of what was going on in my head, look at the whatsapp to jack doyle where i positively urge him to get the truth out to the public. the truth out about that december 18 event. it seems to unfair to me based on what i had been told that the event was being presented as a purery social gathering on what i knew to be a monumentally busy day for the media department, where they were coping both with the emergence that day of the variant of covid and what some saw as the risk of a no deal. that's why i was inclined to believe that this event must be in line with the rules and the guidance. and that's why i said what i said on december 1. as for my statements on december 8, the committee is concerned that i may have misled the house when i said that i was repeatedly assured that the event was in accordance with the rules. i don't understand this point. you can see from the evidence that i received these assurances more than once and from more than one person. my statement was entirely accurate. the committee criticizes the fact they've not received asheurnses in

there are some slightly more awkward exchanges between jack doyle slightly more awkward exchanges betweenjackcials where they are talking about whether they can justify. we have seen these messages before but they are being published again, whatsapp messages talking about how to respond to reports in the media, they are saying we are not sure we can justify this one. the birthday cake at borisjohnson�*s birthday event gathering in the cabinet room, that makes it awkward. this makes it harder to justify to the police and to the media more widely. there is awkward stuff. not finished at all, i still have ten pages to go, before i still have ten pages to go, before i got bundled on here so my colleagues could have a morning meeting. if there is anything else, i will tell you as soon as i know. you talked about a potential political rebellion, borisjohnson and liz truss are going to vote against the government today on the brexit northern ireland, the new brexit northern ireland, the new brexit northern ireland deal which rishi sunak has got, the windsor framework. it is important because it is a

in borisjohnson talks about jack doyle has been reported in boris johnson talks about further supportn be in the committee's possession-— support can be in the committee's tossession. , . , possession. he sent a message saying is there a way — possession. he sent a message saying is there a way of — possession. he sent a message saying is there a way of getting _ possession. he sent a message saying is there a way of getting to _ possession. he sent a message saying is there a way of getting to the - is there a way of getting to the truth about the party out there. he trusted the assurances that jack doyle had given we're just going to go on the met police report that has with permission, i would like to make a statement of baroness casey's review of the metropolitan police. i casey's review of the metropolitan police. . casey's review of the metropolitan police. , ., , ., , police. i wish to put on record my thanks of baroness _ police. i wish to put on record my thanks of baroness casey - police. i wish to put on record my thanks of baroness casey for i police. i wish to put on reco

actually, jack doyle was the person who told him, he put down on a whatsapp to a colleague, i'm strugglinggreat gaping hole in the prime minister's account. i think there is evidence really that this is just think there is evidence really that this isjust spin, and ifind it really strange that borisjohnson really strange that boris johnson was concerned more about how this would look, and did not get the sort of advice, especially after the huge row when this story came to the media, about dominic cummings breaking the rules. do media, about dominic cummings breaking the rules.— breaking the rules. do you think this committee _ breaking the rules. do you think this committee will— breaking the rules. do you think this committee will eventually l breaking the rules. do you think. this committee will eventually find that he did intentionally and recklessly mislead the commons? well, that is up to them, isn't it? just bear in mind that they are in majority committee of tory mps. they have combed through all of the evidence they have, and they have put out a pretty damning report which i read

so therefore all various reflect if we can put that from the likes of jack doyle from simon case and will have resonance are they will have resonance. i mean and presume i mean if they say but we never it like that he said rules were not broken . i mean of rules were not broken. i mean of course it matters. no, it's not a court of law . what? well, i a court of law. what? well, i mean, the thing about a court of law is once it's over, it's oven law is once it's over, it's over. and you're or not guilty. the about what's important about committee is a you know that parliament as a body vote said that the committee would look at they've never question that harriet harman is the right chair and a tory you know there are four conservatives on the committee two labour they've questioned that harriet harman should be chair but also once the committee has it makes their mind up then it goes back to parliament. and rishi sunak has indicated the conservatives have indicated the conservatives have indicated it's going to be a free vote. so actually what they do afterwards is as important what

jack doyle, who was one of his chief advisers at the time, making it clear that the guidance had beend. no, no. what was that all said was that there was no evidence the guidance hadn't been. but none of the official orjack been. but none of the official or jack doyle actually cleared him in the sense of saying, oh yes, absolutely. you're right. there's no problem with that. they were trying suppress evidence, disputes that . well, evidence, disputes that. well, bofis evidence, disputes that. well, boris johnson admits that he misled the house because he got it wrong. and the question here is. but he says he got it wrong because he was misinformed by his advisers. he should have tried them when he was up events. he pictured there. events. he was pictured there. now, be that wasn't now, it might be that he wasn't emphatically there were concerns about breaking, but i really do this idea that he didn't know that it was his work that also doubled as a whole. obviously but look for me what this actually comes down to is much more than partygate because, you know, i think partygate is a sti

jack doyle, who was one of his chief advisers at the time, making it clear that the guidance had beeno, no. what was that all said was that there was no evidence the guidance hadn't been. but none of the official orjack been. but none of the official or jack doyle actually cleared him in the sense of saying, oh yes, absolutely. you're right. there's no problem with that. they were trying suppress evidence, disputes that . well, evidence, disputes that. well, bofis evidence, disputes that. well, boris johnson admits that he misled the house because he got it wrong. and the question here is. but he says he got it wrong because he was misinformed by his advisers. he should have tried them when he was up events. he was there. events. he was pictured there. now, be that he wasn't now, it might be that he wasn't emphatically there were concerns about breaking, but i really do this idea that he didn't know that it was his work that also doubled as a whole. obviously but look for me what this actually comes down to is much more than partygate because, you know, i think partygate is a stitch .

we can show you page 72, evidence from jack doyle, number ten's com is the right of the time, the manhnson at any time that covid rules were followed at all times? and he says i believed that no rules were broken. but there is a bit of a difference a year when it comes to guidance on this says that he did not tell borisjohnson that he did not tell borisjohnson that no overt guidance was broken in number ten. there are different accounts on this evidence of what exactly went on and it feels likely that something that could come up indicating this afternoon, this question of if the legal rules were not broken, was the guidance broken? we know the legal stuff was broken because boris johnson we know the legal stuff was broken because borisjohnson was eventually fined, but his team and some of his advisers seem to have been drawing a distinction between the two things. as i say, there are other parts of this if few pages back where different aids, some of them mps, a parliamentary secretary to boris johnson at the time for example saying mrjohnson was told that meetings before the key pri

jack doyle sort of saying more or less, how can i spin this ? or less, how can i spin this?is really bad. what can we do? yeah. and although do have some sympathy, i'm going to put the pro boris side lewis, which is that i mean he in these whatsapp messages have been released to lock down files 200,000 messages from hancock. how he actually comes across slightly us he comes slightly better than us he comes across as not really to across as not really wanting to do them anyway, do lockdowns, doing them anyway, which but comes which isn't great. but he comes across as bad as hank, but i across not as bad as hank, but i think that makes it worse. lie is more cynical. he knew the of the fact that what was actually going impact and what going to make an impact and what wasn't made political wasn't and made the political decision as to being decision as opposed to being brave and strong as our leader of our country and making the right country. yes right call for our country. yes definitely not going back. what do care do you think they should care about game? not at all and about

jack doyle sort of saying more or less, how can i spin this ? or less, how can i spin this?is really bad. what can we do? yeah. and although do have some sympathy, i'm going to put the pro boris side lewis, which is that i mean he in these whatsapp messages have been released to lock down files 200,000 messages from hancock. how he actually comes across slightly us he comes slightly better than us he comes across really to across as not really wanting to do lockdowns, them anyway, do lockdowns, doing them anyway, which great. comes which isn't great. but he comes across not bad as hank, but i across not as bad as hank, but i think that makes it worse. lie is more cynical. he knew the of the fact that what was actually going impact and what going to make an impact and what wasn't made political wasn't and made the political decision as opposed to being brave and strong as our leader of country and making of our country and making the right for country. yes right call for our country. yes definitely not going back. what do care do you think they should care about i'm not at al

he trusted the assurances of former of communications jack doyle that amid pandemic christmas party wascheese and exchanging gifts at the desk. that did not sound to me like a breach of the rules or the guidance. let alone a party, said mr. johnson so essentially boris johnson's defence on the fact that he , defence on the fact that he, well, the, his, his , what he well, the, his, his, what he says is that he didn't know he was breaking the rules. and so when he stood up and said that he was doing everything within the rules , was acting in good the rules, was acting in good faith . and this 52 page dossier faith. and this 52 page dossier that he's put together is essentially gathering up all sorts of evidence from messages, from communication between . him from communication between. him and his advisers in which his advisers appear to tell him that there is no of the rules. so when he relayed information to the house, he says he was acting in good faith. it's not his fault if that guidance was wrong. now that he knows, because you can see in his dossier that he knows that the committ

net boris johnson said he reached out to staff for clarification from his communications director jack doylee. i think you can say that i was assured that there was no party and no rules. violated. struggling, johnson said he relied on assurances like this to refute allegations of violating quarantine rules in parliament. a few days later , boresh johnson texted jake doyle on whatsapp calling the gathering the b-word as a way to get the truth about the party out to the public. boris johnson claims that he didn't think it was a party, but used the word as an abbreviation. stop that word that the media used that he just picked up after 2 weeks. after this party, boris johnson will again raise a glass in the same hall on downing street, one of those present recalls how johnson, drinking on the road , said this is probably the most social. distant meeting in the uk right now johnson will write to the committee later. i don't remember those words. this seems unlikely. i could well have mentioned social distancing in my speech even where it was strictly observed. but this does not mean that i unde

be fairly in that they said that rule breaking should have been obvious and people quoted like jack doylecommunications . what's communications. what's happening? i'm struggling to come up with a way that this one is within the rules in head. however boris is boris johnson's team are going to be mounting, as oliver dowden said earlier, a very robust defence. they're handing over a 50 page dossier explaining as they it advice that the former minister was given, telling him, that what had happened was within the rules and of course, bear in mind that boris johnson was not physically at a lot of these events . the one the night before events. the one the night before prince philip's funeral particularly notorious. boris johnson at chequers at the time . so their argument will be he didn't know and he was purely saying what been told by his and what he believed to be true. now the committee will then consider , he said, and all the evidence for several more weeks before . for several more weeks before. we get their recommendations. but at that point, they can anything from a simple they might

jack doyle has nothing to do with the civil service or nothing to do with sue gray.o the rules as they were in place at that time. so i think i think to see this as kind of policy is the usual subterfuge by boris johnson and forjacob the usual subterfuge by boris johnson and for jacob to the usual subterfuge by boris johnson and forjacob to come johnson and for jacob to come out and say that perhaps he should head up the investigation and to sue gray, you know, insults , intelligence. well, you insults, intelligence. well, you might say that. but you had investigation and now she's off to the labour party. so i'd say thatis to the labour party. so i'd say that is a bit of an insult. thank you very, brian and c right. let's get back to our political reporter, catherine, who is in downing street. catherine, sorry we lost you. we lost you. where we? where lost you. where were we? where were oh, yes. we're likely were we? oh, yes. we're likely to investigation to be getting an investigation into thing is, cheese into sue gray thing is, cheese suddenly sort of changing or

it's this guy jack doyle. messages doyle. will come of how he was only come out of how he was only telling the correct line on what to say and he will say he didn't willingly break rules or knowingly break rules. he'll try and bluster his way through the tv trial . and if he gets away tv trial. and if he gets away with this and he's allowed to be selected for mp for the next general , and selected for mp for the next general, and if it goes selected for mp for the next general , and if it goes the way general, and if it goes the way it's most likely that rishi will lose the next election, then i think it's a comeback for boris as tory leader at the next general election. i think the ranks of the tory boss probably very much welcome them . i do very much welcome them. i do wonder if there is a moral dilemma for those mp who are diehard allies boris johnson diehard allies of boris johnson for lots of far enough reasons. i mean, he's an electoral golden goose, charismatic , all the goose, he's charismatic, all the rest it. but t