British lawmakers order investigation into whether Boris Johnson lied to Parliament about 'partygate'

Boris Johnson in India
(Image credit: Stefan Rousseau - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Britain's House of Commons on Thursday ordered a parliamentary investigation of Prime Minister Boris Johnson and whether he knowingly lied to Parliament about breaking the law with parties at Downing Street during COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. Johnson's government had tried to delay the vote, but when enough members of his Conservative Party appeared set to vote for the investigation, Downing Street dropped its opposition.

The investigation was approved by voice vote, with no objections, after five hours of debate. The Committee of Privileges will begin its inquiry as soon as the police have concluded their investigation of the "partygate" gatherings. Johnson, along with his wife and Treasury chief Rishi Sunak, was fined 50 pounds ($66) last week for attending illicit parties, making him the first British prime minister found to have broken the law while in office.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.