Boris Johnson has been referred to the police by the Cabinet Office over new claims he broke COVID lockdown rules.
The former prime minister’s ministerial diary has revealed visits by friends to Chequers during the pandemic.
The trips to the grace-and-favour country residence were highlighted during preparations for a public inquiry into COVID.
Politics Live: Boris Johnson’s diary shows friends visiting him at Chequers during lockdown
The Cabinet Office has passed concerns to the Metropolitan Police and Thames Valley Police.
The privileges committee, which is investigating claims that Mr Johnson misled parliament over partygate, has also been informed, according to The Times which first reported on the story.
The news has sparked calls for Mr Johnson to step down as an MP.
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But sources close to him called the referral “clearly politically motivated” and claimed the Cabinet Office did not give him any notice “so he could put forward the facts before the report was made”.
Mr Johnson has been advised by lawyers that the events were lawful.
A spokesperson for Mr Johnson said: “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.”
Police are currently “assessing” concerns, but a formal investigation has not yet been launched.
A statement from the Metropolitan Police said the details were passed to them on May 19 and it relates “to potential breaches of the Health Protection Regulations between June 2020 and May 2021 at Downing Street”.
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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.”
Johnson ‘should consider his position as MP’
The Liberal Democrats have called for Mr Johnson to consider his position as an MP.
Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper said: “It’s outrageous that rumours of alleged rule-breaking by Boris Johnson are still being drip fed to the public.
“The fact that it’s one rule for them and one rule for the rest of us still triggers a raw sense of injustice in millions of people.
“Sunak must make sure that not a single penny more of taxpayer money is spent on Johnson’s legal fund; and Johnson should finally do one decent thing and consider his position as an MP.”
The partygate scandal overshadowed the end of Boris Johnson’s premiership and played a major role in his downfall.
In April last year he was fined by the Met Police for attending his own birthday party in the Cabinet room in Downing Street in June 2020.
Details of drunkenness, fighting and late night parties in Downing Street while the nation lived under lockdown were laid bare in a damning report by Sue Gray – who said “senior leadership” must bear responsibility.
