Key revelations from partygate evidence: Aides deny telling Boris Johnson that guidance was followed

Two Downing Street aides have denied telling Boris Johnson that all Covid guidance was followed in No 10.

Both Simon Case, who was the Cabinet Secretary, and Jack Doyle, who was director of communications at the time when partygate emerged, replied "no" when asked if they had assured Mr Johnson that the guidance was adhered to at all times.

The privileges committee published its 110-page partygate evidence dossier on Wednesday morning, just hours before Mr Johnson will face a grilling which could determine his future as an MP.

Here are the key points we have gleaned from the document:

Simon Case: I never assured PM Covid rules were followed

Mr Case told the privileges committee he never reassured Mr Johnson that Covid rules were followed in No 10.

Asked whether he gave the PM “any assurances” that rules and guidance were adhered to at all times, and that no parties were held in No 10 when Covid restrictions were in force, Whitehall’s top civil servant replied “no”.

He also said he did not know of anyone else who gave Mr Johnson any such assurance.

It comes despite an MP suggesting Mr Case likely told Downing Street that no Covid rules were broken.

Sarah Dines, who was appointed parliamentary private secretary to Mr Johnson - along with Andrew Griffith - in September 2021, told the committee about a conversation in the Cabinet Room where the then prime minister asked: “We did follow the rules at all times, didn’t we?”

She went on to say: “I recall more than one person in the room said ‘yes, of course’. I am not certain who the people were who said yes, but I am certain they were civil servants and it was more than one voice. I am about 90 per cent sure one of them was Simon Case, the Cabinet Secretary.”

Jack Doyle: I never told PM guidance was adhered to 'at all times'

In his own evidence to the committee, Mr Doyle denied giving Mr Johnson any assurances that Covid guidance was "adhered to at all times" in Downing Street during lockdown.

"We made every effort to comply with the Covid-19 guidelines to the greatest extent that we were able," he added.

"It is difficult to say that the guidelines of this nature [e.g. Perspex screens] were followed at all times, and it would not be possible for me to say that they were."

Lee Cain: Garden party was ‘purely a social function’

Lee Cain, who was Mr Johnson’s director of communications for the first part of the pandemic, said it was “clear” that the garden party in May 2020 was “purely a social function”.

Mr Johnson has said that he understood the gathering to be a “socially-distanced outdoor meeting to boost staff morale and teamworking after what had been a very difficult period”.

He added: “In my view, an opportunity to thank staff and boost morale was essential for work purposes.”

But in evidence cited by the committee, Mr Cain said: “From memory there were around 40 people in attendance including the PM, the PPS, Mrs Johnson and - unusually - advisers from other departments. They were joined by a cross-section of staff from across Downing Street.

“It was clear observing all who attended and the layout of the event that this was purely a social function."

Dominic Cummings: ‘Comical’ for Johnson to suggest he thought garden party was ‘work’

Dominic Cummings also took aim at Mr Johnson over his interpretation of the "BYOB" event organised by Martin Reynolds, who was the PM's principal private secretary.

Mr Johnson's former top aide said the garden party was a “mistake”, and insisted he had not given his old boss any reassurances around it.

Mr Cummings is also quoted as having told the Cabinet Office investigation team: "The idea the PM could have thought this drinks event was 'work' is comical, given the tables covered in bottles of drink, everyone standing around drinking etc.

"The PM certainly knew it was a drinks party because I told him and when he walked outside he saw a drinks party."

Jack Doyle: ‘Just be robust and they’ll get bored’

Privileges committee evidence reveals Mr Doyle told a No 10 official "just be robust and they'll get bored" when first approached by a journalist over partygate.

Mr Doyle told the aide to "say something as robust as we can manage" when Pippa Crerar, the then political editor of the Daily Mirror, approached No 10 over drinks that took place in December 2020 at Downing Street.

"Key thing is there were never any rules against workplace drinking, so we can say with confidence no rules were broken. Ignore the Xmas quiz' bulls--t – who cares. Just be robust and they'll get bored,” Mr Doyle wrote.

Martin Reynolds: I questioned if Johnson’s PMQ line was ‘realistic’

Mr Reynolds queried Mr Johnson's plan to tell the Commons in December 2021 that all rules had been followed.

The former aide said he questioned how "realistic" Mr Johnson's comments were.

"He did not welcome the interruption but told me that he had received reassurances that the comms event was within the rules,” he said.

"I accepted this but questioned whether it was realistic to argue that all guidance had been followed at all times, given the nature of the working environment in No 10."

Lee Cain: Cummings said he spoke to PM about 'BYOB' event

Mr Cain said Mr Cummings agreed with him that the May garden party should not take place and that he later reported back to him that he had informed the PM about the issue.

But when they spoke, Mr Cummings and Mr Johnson were said to have argued about "multiple staffing issues".

Mr Cain said he did not recall "personally" having a conversation with Mr Johnson about the gathering, but it would have been “highly unusual” for him not to have raised a "potentially serious communications risk" with the PM.

Mr Johnson said in his evidence to the parliamentary inquiry: "I can categorically state that no one at the time expressed to me any concerns about whether the event complied with the rules or guidance.

"I do recall a conversation with Dominic Cummings on the afternoon of the event, but he did not mention the event, let alone express any concerns that the event would breach the rules or guidance."

Mr Johnson 'perplexed' at suggestion he went to a party

Ms Dines, a former aide to Mr Johnson, said he appeared to be a "bit exasperated" at the idea he had been "at a party".

She wrote: "I would like to add that there was an occasion in Mr Johnson's Parliamentary office in or about December 2021 when he was standing near me by the seating/sofa area of his office when he shrugged his shoulders and appeared perplexed and said: 'Why would they think I was at a party?'

"I said that I did not know. He appeared a bit exasperated."

Ex-No 10 official: Johnson could have shut down gatherings

The evidence of one No 10 official to the privileges committee may cause some difficulty for Mr Johnson on Wednesday.

They suggest he had the opportunity to stop the events in Downing Street, but instead "joined in".

An extract of the aide's written submission states: "The former prime minister often saw and joined these gatherings, either he was invited by SPADs [special advisers] or spotted them whilst walking up to his flat, the route he took down the corridor looks straight into the press room and vestibule so it's impossible not to see.

"He had the opportunity to shut them down, but joined in, made speeches, had a drink with staff.

"He could have taken the issue up with Martin Reynolds, his Principal Private Secretary, to shut them down. He could see what was happening and allowed the culture to continue."

Andrew Griffith: No 10 assured PM there were no Covid parties

Mr Griffith, a former aide to Mr Johnson, said the then PM was given assurances by Downing Street staff at the daily office meeting that no parties were held in No 10 when Covid restrictions were in force, as allegations of gatherings emerged in the papers.

He said: "The substance (though to be clear not the precise wording) of the assurances by Downing Street staff to Mr Johnson in response to the initial articles was 'are they kidding? We were all working our socks off during Covid - no one had time for any parties!'"