Two thirds do not believe Johnson’s partygate defence, polling suggests

Ex-PM Boris Johnson defended various events, including his birthday party for which he was fined, as being ‘necessary for work purposes’.

Then-PM Boris Johnson attends a gathering celebrating his birthday – in which cake and alcohol was provided – in the Cabinet Room at 10 Downing Street during the pandemic (Cabinet Office/PA) (PA Media)

More than two thirds of people do not believe Boris Johnson’s defence of Downing Street partygate events, a snap poll has suggested.

The former prime minister has accepted that he attended five of the gatherings considered by the Privileges Committee but said he “honestly believed that these events were lawful work gatherings”.

Mr Johnson submitted written evidence in his defence this week before appearing in front of the committee on Wednesday for at times short-tempered testimony lasting more than three hours.