I’m the woman who asked Boris the question that brought him down – I’m still angry and heartbroken

When he discovered he was going to face the consequences of his actions, Johnson lashed out. His behaviour fails to uphold the best traditions of our parliament, writes Catherine West

When allegations came to light that there had been parties in Downing Street, I asked the then prime minister a very specific, direct question about one of them (UK Parliament/AFP/Getty)

Those dark days of the pandemic took a huge toll on so many. The loss of loved ones, missing the birth of a child or the funeral of a friend, the unbearable stress placed on key workers, the closed businesses, and health effects that linger for many to this day. Faced with such an unprecedented health emergency the British people did what they had to do – they stayed at home and followed the rules, often at great personal sacrifice.

Not Boris Johnson.

While the country hunkered down for the greater good, it’s now confirmed that he oversaw a Downing Street culture which repeatedly breached the same Covid rules they set. When allegations came to light that there had been parties in Downing Street, I asked the then prime minister, clearly and specifically, if he could tell the House if there had been a party in No 10 on 13 November.

“No, but I am sure that whatever happened the guidance was followed, and the rules were followed at all times.” That’s how the prime minister – from the despatch box, in front of a full House of Commons – answered my clear question.

Today, with the release of the searingly critical privileges committee report, we know he lied to me, repeatedly misled the House, and impugned our democratic process.

• Read our live coverage of reaction to the Partygate report here: Ex-PM’s final disgrace as lies finally laid bare

The detail in their report is staggering. Not only did parties and gatherings take place – more than we initially knew about – but junior officials also told the committee that Johnson’s Downing Street was a “island oasis of normality” with notes telling staff to avoid the cameras while they carried on partying inside. It is a deeply shameful episode which has eroded many people’s ability to trust politics and politicians, and it all happened under the stewardship of one man. The committee rightly pointed out it was inconceivable that Johnson wouldn’t have known what was happening in the building. He was the prime minister. He set the standard. He could have stopped the rule breaking and led by example. But he didn’t. Instead, he joined in, and then lied to me and many other MPs when we held him to account, leading to a year-long process culminating in today’s report.

When he discovered he was going to face the consequences of his actions – arguably for the first time in his life – Johnson lashed out, calling the committee a “kangaroo court” and further undermining the institution at the heart of British democracy. His behaviour fails to uphold the best traditions of our parliament. All MPs are elected to serve the British people and I firmly believe that doing so is an honour. To attack a committee of our fellow MPs who call out your flagrant lying to parliament is beyond the pale and it is right that he faces action, but he has cowardly resigned before he faced the weight of action he deserves.

Many people have asked how I feel today, with my question playing a part in holding this serial liar to account. The answer is: mixed. Of course I am pleased that our democratic process has held out, and that Johnson has faced a reckoning for his serial rule breaking and his attempts to hide it by lying. I am pleased that our system of government allows our leaders to be scrutinised by MPs and that their word in the House matters. If we didn’t, my question and the questions of countless other colleagues wouldn’t have mattered. We proved today it does, and telling the truth is imperative.

But equally I am angry and heartbroken when I think of the British public. Doctors, nurses, care workers, bus drivers, police officers, all law-abiding members of the public. They made sacrifices. They did the right thing. They were lied to by the man making decisions, and they are being insulted by him, and his allies, as they are continuing to attack the processes in place to uphold standards.

The British people deserve better than this contempt they are showing for them, and they deserve a government with integrity and honesty at its heart. I hope today, and the focus on our questions and Mr Johnson’s lying, is the first step towards restoring standards and delivering a new government which the British people can have faith in.

Catherine West is the Labour MP for Hornsey and Wood Green