Johnson Acting Like Trump Over Partygate, Say Tories

Conservative MPs have accused Boris Johnson of acting like Donald Trump in his efforts to undermine the Partygate inquiry into whether he lied to parliament.

- Adam Forrest

The former prime minister is under growing pressure after the privileges committee released a report saying it would have been "obvious" to Mr Johnson that No 10 gatherings breached Covid restrictions.

Mr Johnson said it was "surreal" that the committee of MPs relied on evidence from Sue Gray - the top civil servant set to be appointed Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer's chief of staff.

But a privileges committee spokesperson dismissed Mr Johnson's arguments, saying work was "not based on the Sue Gray report" but on direct witness accounts and government evidence.

Tobias Ellwood, Tory chair of the defence select committee, said: "If we now stay united and disciplined we could win the general election, but not if this latest distraction turns into a Trumpian drag anchor."

A senior Tory MP told The Observer about the claims made by Mr Johnson and allies: "They have gone full Trump. It is wicked. Where will this end? They are desperate." Another said Mr Johnson was "just like Trump, saying black is white, white is black".

Sir Bob Neill, Tory chair of the all-party justice select committee, added: "It is wrong for anyone to try to undermine the work of a parliamentary committee."

The planned move of Ms Gray - who led the Cabinet Office inquiry into lockdown-breaking parties to a top role with Labour has been leapt on by Mr Johnson and allies as part of attempts to discredit the parliamentary inquiry.

Sir Keir has so far dodged questions about when conversations began with Ms Gray, who is expected to await the decision of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba) before starting the role.