Who are the privileges committee MPs who investigated whether Boris Johnson misled parliament over partygate?
Boris Johnson focused much of his wrath on the House of Commons privileges committee when resigning as an MP.
In his letter, Mr Johnson said the committee’s “purpose from the beginning has been to find me guilty, regardless of the fact”.
He added that this was “the very definition of a kangaroo court”.
In response, the committee said it had “followed the procedures and the mandate of the House at all times and will continue to do so.
“Mr Johnson has departed from the processes of the House and has impugned the integrity of the House by his statement.
“The committee will meet on Monday to conclude the inquiry and to publish its report promptly. “
What is the privileges committee?
The House of Commons privileges committee is a cross-party group of MPs which is there to “consider specific matters relating to privileges referred by the House”.
Privilege, in this instance, is the ability of MPs to speak freely in the House of Commons without the threat of legal prosecution – and the ability to self-regulate.
In this case, the committee is regulating whether Boris Johnson deliberately misled them – something which would equate to contempt of parliament.
It was once merged with the committee on standards – but they have since been split, with the standards body now including members who are not MPs.
The standards brief is more broad, and relates to matters of conduct.
Who is on the privileges committee?
It is made up of seven MPs – four Conservatives, two from Labour and one from the SNP.
The MPs are voted onto the committee by their colleagues and reflect the political make-up of the House.
Labour’s Sir Chris Bryant is normally the chair, but recused himself from this investigation as he had already made a number of public comments about partygate.
Instead, senior Labour backbencher and mother of the House Harriet Harman took his place.
The other members are Tories Andy Carter, Alberto Costa, Sir Bernard Jenkin and Sir Charles Walker, as well as Labour’s Yvonne Fovargue and the SNP’s Allan Dorans.
What are their powers?
Technically, the only powers the committee has is to issue a report for the Commons for MPs to consider.
In its findings, it can conclude that an individual has been found to have “committed a contempt” in misleading the House, and it can recommend sanctions – ranging from an oral or written apology through to suspension for a specified period or even expulsion from the Commons.
But it falls to MPs to decide whether to accept the findings of the report and to follow through with any sanction.
If MPs agree to a suspension of 10 sitting days or 14 calendar days upwards, it would have triggered a recall petition for Mr Johnson, allowing his constituents in Uxbridge and South Ruislip to vote on whether to hold a by-election for his seat.
This is now academic, after Mr Johnson announced he is standing down, but the House will still vote on the report.
What did Boris Johnson tell them?
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March: ‘I did not lie to the House’
Boris Johnson took part in a blockbuster evidence session before the privileges committee earlier this year.
He started, unconventionally, by swearing an oath on a bible to “tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God”.
This meant the testimony was subject to the Perjury Act 1911 – so lying or providing a false account would be a criminal offence.
Not long afterwards, Mr Johnson told the committee that “hand on heart, I did not lie to the House.”
He said it was “absolutely essential for work purposes” to have a leaving “do” for some members of Number 10 staff who left during the pandemic.
At one point, he appeared to lose his temper while defending what happened in Number 10 during COVID.
Asked if he would have advised anyone else in the country at the time to hold a large-scale social gathering in the garden, he insisted it “was not a large social gathering, it was a gathering”.
“I really must insist this point, people who say that we were partying in lockdown simply do not know what they are talking about,” he said.
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One of his main defences was that he received assurances from senior members of staff that the events were not breaking the rules.
The former MP also attacked the committee – saying their actions were “manifestly unfair”.
A manhunt for a second and third prisoner who were released in error has put further pressure on Justice Secretary David Lammy.
Last month Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, who was serving a 12-month prison sentence for sexual assault, was released in error when he should have been deported.
The Ethiopian national, who came to the UK on a small boat in the summer, spent roughly 48 hours at large before being apprehended in north London and deported.
But it emerged on Wednesday that within days of Kebatu’s mistaken release from HMP Chelmsford, HMP Wandsworth also mistakenly released prisoner Brahim Kaddour-Cherif.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed to Sky News: “Shortly after 1pm on Tuesday 4 November, the Met was informed by the Prison Service that a prisoner had been released in error from HMP Wandsworth on Wednesday 29 October.
“The prisoner is a 24-year-old Algerian man.
“Officers are carrying out urgent enquiries in an effort to locate him and return him to custody.”
The same day Surrey Police put out a public appeal to locate fraudster William Smith, 35, who was also released in error from HMP Wandsworth on 3 November. He had been sentenced to 45 months in prison that day.
Mr Lammy, who was recently appointed justice secretary, is under renewed political pressure.
Hadush Kebatu, jailed for two sexual assaults in Epping. Pic: Essex Police / PA
How many prisoners are released in error?
According to government statistics published in July, 262 prisoners were released in error in the 12 months to March 2025 – a 128% increase from 115 the previous year.
The report states: “Of the 262 releases in error, 233 of these releases in error occurred from prison establishments, while 29 were released in error at the courts.
“Releases in error from establishments could also be a result of errors by the court.”
This is out of a total prison population across England and Wales of roughly 86,000.
Sky News has contacted the HM Prison & Probation Service to know how many of the 262 prisoners have since been found and returned to custody.
In September 2024, Sky News reported how dozens of people released from jail under the government’s emergency prison scheme were freed by mistake.
The Labour government said it was forced to release hundreds of inmates early because prisons were at capacity.
William Fernandez. Pic: PA
Kebatu was due to be deported when he was mistakenly released from HMP Chelmsford.
Previous high-profile manhunts
William Fernandez, who was awaiting trial for sexual assault, was released from HMP Wormwood by error in March 2021. He then went on to rape a 16-year-old girl and sexually assault a young woman.
Joseph McCann. Pic: Police handout
In December 2019, the prisons and probation service “apologised unreservedly” after serial rapist Joseph McCann was freed to commit a series of sex attacks on women and children.
In July 2017, an inmate who was released from prison just months into a nine-year sentence due to a “clerical error” was arrested after weeks on the run.
A man who arrived on a small boat has been sent back to France for the second time in less than two months.
The Iranian man came to the UK on a small boat on 6 August and was initially sent back to France on 19 September, before returning to the UK on a small boat on 18 October.
He has been flown back again as part of the latest tranche of 19 returnees under the “one in, one out” agreement with France.
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The Iranian man told The Guardian he had been a victim of modern slavery at the hands of people smugglers in northern France.
As part of the one in, one out agreement, which came into play in August, 94 migrants who came to the UK illegally on small boats have now been removed.
In return, a total of 57 approved asylum seekers have been brought to the UK.
The man came to the UK twice on a small boat. File pic
Although the UK has sent back more migrants than it has accepted, the two countries have committed to exchange an equal number of people in each direction.
The end of October saw more migrants having crossed the Channel in 2025 than the entirety of 2024.
Read more:
Manhunt after foreign prisoner mistakenly released from prison
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: “Anyone looking to return to the UK after being removed under the UK-France agreement is wasting their time and money.
“This individual was detected by biometrics and detained instantly. His case was expedited, and now he has been removed again.
“My message is clear: if you try to return to the UK you will be sent back. I will do whatever it takes to scale up removals of illegal migrants and secure our borders.”
Fire crews have been tackling a major incident after flooding hit parts of southwest Wales overnight, with people trapped in their homes and vehicles.
Joint Fire Control (JFC), which includes South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, received more than 450 calls within a 12-hour period, mainly in Carmarthenshire, according to Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS).
Forty-eight people were rescued from a care home, more than 40 people were helped to safety from flooded homes, three people were rescued from a vehicle trapped in fast-flowing water, and more than 30 dogs were saved from flood-affected kennels at a shelter.
A major incident was declared after flooding at a retirement complex in Whitland in the early hours of Wednesday. At 1.35am, crews were deployed to rescue 48 people using “rescue sleds and water rescue equipment,” MAWWFRS said in a statement.
Pic: MAWWFRS
Three people were trapped in a vehicle in fast-flowing water. Pic: MAWWFRS
Earlier on Tuesday, in the remote village of Ffarmers, fire teams rescued three people and their two dogs who were stuck in a vehicle situated in fast-flowing water.
Fire chiefs said crews used extension ladders to reach the vehicle.
Two further incidents on Tuesday evening involved people being rescued from flooded properties in Ferryside.
Around 42 more people were rescued in nearby St Clears, where about 20 domestic and commercial properties were flooded.
Flood warnings and alerts have been in force across Wales. Pic: Natural Resources Wales
Later the same evening, crews were involved in an operation at Glanrhyd Dog Sanctuary, Kidwelly. Boats were used to evacuated dogs from a shelter which was ruined in the floods.
Owner Alison Clark told Sky News she was “broken beyond belief”.
Crews transported animals from Glanrhyd Dog Sanctuary, Kidwelly, to safety. Pic: MAWWFRS
All the dogs were rescued. Pic: MAWWFRS
“It’s devastating. Everything ruined or lost in the current. All white goods… freezers etc along with dog food, bedding and leads etc.
“We spent 80k on this move to make the sanctuary one of the best and now it is ruined.
“I’m broken beyond belief. My only saving grace is that I kept every dog alive.”
Among the rivers placed on flood warning – where flooding is expected – were the River Towy around Camarthen and between Llandeilo and Abergwili, the River Ritec at Tenby, the River Cynin at St Clears, the River Taf at Whitland and the River Teifi at Llechryd and Cenarth.
Carmarthenshire County Council said a rest centre has been set up in Carmarthen Leisure Centre for those suffering the “severe impact” of flooding in the Whitland and St Clears areas.
Seven schools were closed on Wednesday in the county and the council also confirmed multiple road closures were in place due to flooding or road conditions.
Read more from Sky News:
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Migrant sent back to France for second time
Craig Flannery, Assistant Chief Fire Officer at MAWWFRS, said the rescues were “prolonged and challenging”.
“I have personally witnessed the dedication and professionalism of our staff dealing with multiple calls over a prolonged period, as well as the courageous efforts of our operational crews responding to these incidents across our Service area,” he said.
“Our crews have been truly exceptional in assisting and protecting our communities.
“We are also extremely grateful to all partner agencies who have assisted in responding to incidents during a prolonged and challenging period.”
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