The referral was instead made by officials acting within the Civil Service Code, it said. The Cabinet Office passed concerns to the Metropolitan Police and Thames Valley Police after the new information came to light during a review by taxpayer-funded lawyers. The Privileges Committee, which is conducting an inquiry into whether Mr Johnson lied to Parliament about the partygate scandal, has also been informed. The Liberal Democrats have demanded Mr Sunak’s Government brings an end to the taxpayer-funded legal defence provided to Mr Johnson over the partygate probe. The Government expects to pay an estimated £222,000 in legal fees to help Mr Johnson defend himself in the Privileges Committee inquiry.

Source: The Times May 24, 2023 08:26 UTC