"Hand on heart, I did not lie": The six key things Boris Johnson told MPs as he was grilled over partygate

Boris Johnson has insisted he did not lie to Parliament when he told MPs in the House of Commons that Covid guidance was followed at all times in Downing Street - despite the Met Police going on to issue hundreds of fines for events that took place in government buildings during the pandemic.

The former prime minister’s defence was today scrutinised by MPs from across the House sitting on the Privileges Committee, which has been tasked with uncovering whether or not Mr Johnson deliberately misled Parliament with his statements.

Mr Johnson has said that he accepts he misled MPs but denies doing so “recklessly”, insisting he denied lockdown breaches “in good faith” on the advice of officials, who turned out to be wrong.

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The debate became heated at times as Harriet Harman, the Labour chairwoman of the Tory-majority committee, asked whether he could see why colleagues were “a bit dismayed about the flimsy nature” of the assurances he was given, and senior Tory Sir Bernard Jenkin asked why he failed to take “proper advice” about what to say to Parliament - a statement Mr Johnson angrily rejected as “complete nonsense”.

Mr Johnson defended various rule-breaking events during the coronavirus pandemic, including his birthday party for which he was fined, a number of farewell gatherings for departing colleagues and a garden event in which he thanked members of staff, as being “necessary for work purposes”.

The former prime minister could be suspended and face a possible by-election if he is found to have committed a contempt of Parliament. Here's a round up of what he told MPs on the committee as he gave his evidence today, in a session that