Boris Johnson’s Partygate inquisitor to break cover: Tory grandee Sir Bernard Jenkin to quiz Rishi Sunak after ‘going to ground’ over refusal to answer questions about ‘lockdown-busting behaviour’

• Sir Bernard has remained silent on the issue for nearly three weeks  

Boris Johnson’s Partygate inquisitor Sir Bernard Jenkin will break cover today to quiz Rishi Sunak in his role as chairman of the powerful liaison committee.

The Tory grandee will open himself up to accusations of hypocrisy for chairing a potentially bruising question session for Mr Sunak – while refusing to answer questions about his alleged lockdown-busting behaviour.

Sir Bernard has been accused of ‘going to ground’ over his continued refusal to answer questions over allegations he was at a ‘birthday drinks’ bash in December 2020 that broke Covid-19 rules.

Sir Bernard, one of Mr Johnson’s chief interrogators on the privileges committee inquiry, has remained silent on the issue for nearly three weeks. 

But fellow Tory MP Virigina Crosbie has apologised for being at the gathering – a joint event to mark her birthday and that of Sir Bernard’s wife Anne – although she said she was there only briefly.

Boris Johnson’s Partygate inquisitor Sir Bernard Jenkin will break cover today to quiz Rishi Sunak in his role as chairman of the powerful liaison committee

Amid the fiasco, Sir Bernard has faced calls to give up his position on the liaison committee, which is made up of the heads of all the Commons’ select committees.

Former business secretary Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg said: ‘He [Sir Bernard] cannot hold this post while the questions are unanswered. 

He will not be taken seriously in this role, while people are chortling at him behind their hand, for his own peccadilloes.’ 

Sir Bernard did not respond to a request for comment.

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