Boris Johnson sends last-ditch letter to Partygate inquiry

Boris Johnson submitted a last-ditch letter to the MPs investigating whether he misled Parliament over lockdown parties, as they prepared to publish their findings.

The privileges committee said it was "dealing with" submissions received from the former PM at 23:57 on Monday.

The committee is set to publish its conclusions this week, but is unlikely to do so on Wednesday, as expected.

Mr Johnson quit as an MP last week after seeing the committee's report.

In an explosive and lengthy statement, the former prime minister called the committee a "kangaroo court" whose purpose "has been to find me guilty, regardless of the facts".

The committee said it had "followed the procedures and the mandate".

For almost a year, the seven-person committee - a majority of whom are Conservatives - have been considering whether Mr Johnson misled MPs about Covid-19 breaches in Downing Street and what he knew about them.

Giving evidence in March, Mr Johnson admitted misleading Parliament, but denied doing it on purpose.