Boris Johnson set to face investigation over claims he lied to MPs about partygate

Labour leader Keir Starmer said the British prime minister had tried to “cover up his misdeeds” by taking advantage of the Commons convention not to call someone a liar.

Boris Johnson writes in the visitors’ book during his visit to Mahatma Gandhi’s Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, as part of his two day trip to India (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Boris Johnson faces the prospect of a parliamentary investigation into whether he lied to MPs about Downing Street parties during the coronavirus lockdowns.

In response to a backbench revolt, ministers abandoned attempts to force Conservative MPs to vote for a delay in setting up any investigation, meaning it is now expected to be approved on Thursday – although it will not begin until police inquiries have concluded.