Boris Johnson referred to police over possible new lockdown breaches

Cabinet Office refers Boris Johnson to police over possible new lockdown breaches at Chequers and Downing Street amid claims ex-PM was visited by friends despite Covid restrictions

Boris Johnson has been referred to police amid fresh claims of lockdown breaches by the ex-prime minister, it emerged tonight.

The Cabinet Office passed on information to the Metropolitan Police and Thames Valley Police after it came to light during the preparation of evidence for the official Covid inquiry.

It reportedly refers to visits by friends to Chequers during the pandemic – as well as activities at Downing Street – when restrictions were in place.

The alleged breaches involved Mr Johnson’s family as well as his friends and were revealed in his ministerial diary, according to The Times.

But the ex-PM’s team tonight hit out at a ‘clearly politically motivated attempt to manufacture something out of nothing’.

Mr Johnson, who has not been contacted by police and is currently in the US, is said to have been told by lawyers that all of the events were lawful and in no way broke Covid rules.

Boris Johnson has been referred to police amid fresh claims of lockdown breaches by the ex-prime minister

The ex-PM, pictured with his wife Carrie and daughter Romy at Chequers in December 2021, left No10 in July last year

Earlier today, the ex-PM posted a picture of himself on Twitter as he met Texas Governor Greg Abbott in Austin

A Cabinet Office spokesperson 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.’

Mr Johnson is still battling a probe by the House of Commons’ Privileges Committee into claims he misled Parliament with his assurance that Covid rules were following in Downing Street at all times during the pandemic.

In April last year, the then PM, his wife Carrie, and then Chancellor Rishi Sunak, were fined by the Metropolitan Police for breaking lockdown rules.

The Fixed Penalty Notices were issued in relation to a 56th birthday party for Mr Johnson in the Cabinet room in Downing Street in June 2020.

Mr Johnson quit as PM in July last year in the wake of the ‘Partygate’ row.

He has since spent his time outside of No10 taking on lucrative speaking engagements, as well as continuing to rally international support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s invasion. 

A spokesman for Mr Johnson said this evening: ‘Some abbreviated entries in Mr Johnson’s official diary were queried by Cabinet Office during preparation for the Covid inquiry. 

‘Following an examination of the entries, Mr Johnson’s lawyers wrote to the Cabinet Office and Privileges Committee explaining that the events were lawful and were not breaches of any Covid regulations.’

The ex-PM had earlier posted a picture of himself on Twitter as he met Texas Governor Greg Abbott in Austin. 

A Met Police spokesman said: ‘We are in receipt of information from the Cabinet Office passed to us on 19 May 2023, which we are currently assessing.

‘It relates to potential breaches of the Health Protection Regulations between June 2020 and May 2021 at Downing Street.’

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