Boris Johnson's Essential Defence in the Court of Public Opposition

Boris Johnson's essential defence was that he didn't intentionally or recklessly lie. He understood those gatherings in Downing Street with booze and the absence of social distancing as being within the rules, says Lord Tebbit. The idea that leaving do's are not essential to running an organisation is 'absurd', Mr Tebbit adds. It undermines the seriousness and credibility of all of the government's advice - it's absurd," the Tory MP said.