Boris Johnson is set to apologize for breaking his own lockdown laws when he makes his first statement to MPs since being fined by police. The British prime minister is expected to say he did not knowingly break the rules at a 2020 birthday party at No 10. Opposition parties have accused him of lying to Parliament after he previously told them no rules had been broken. Johnson has vowed to "set the record straight" when he speaks to MPs at about 16.30 BST. But he is also expected to urge MPs to focus instead on issues such as rising prices and the war in Ukraine. Speaking on ITV, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: "He's not just broken the rules, he's lied to the public and he's lied to Parliament about it". He also accused the PM of using the conflict in Ukraine as a "shield" to keep his job, adding that he finds such a tactic "pretty offensive". Sir Keir predicted: "He will try an apology, and he will immediately then go into excuses." Labour and the other opposition parties are exploring ways to hold the prime minister to account, such as a censure motion, effectively a slap on the wrist, a vote of no confidence, or referring him to a parliamentary committee to investigate. However, any such move is highly unlikely to succeed given the government's Commons majority. Earlier, shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry said Labour was relying on Tory MPs to vote "the right way" to achieve their aims. Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle is expected to announce what vote - if any - should take place on measures against Johnson, at 14.30 BST. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis has been criticised for comparing the PM's lockdown fine to former ministers receiving speeding and parking fines. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called the comments an "insult to bereaved families", adding: "The excuses of Conservative ministers are getting more pathetic by the day". Johnson became the first serving UK prime minister to be sanctioned for breaking the law when, along with his wife Carrie and Chancellor Rishi Sunak, he was fined last week for attending the birthday event held for him in the Cabinet Room in June 2020. The PM is facing accusations of lying to MPs because he initially told them Covid rules had been followed in No 10 after the first reports of parties emerged last year. Under government rules, ministers are expected to resign for knowingly misleading MPs - and correct the record as soon as possible if they inadvertently tell Parliament something false. Johnson has since said it "did not occur" to him the June 2020 event could have broken the rules. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has argued Johnson had not "knowingly" mislead MPs. SNP leader and Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has accused Johnson of "repeatedly" lying to Parliament about his fine, and said the "basic values of integrity and decency" mean he should resign. Alongside staff leaving parties on 18 June 2020 and 16 April 2021, the June 2020 birthday event is among three so far known to have attracted fines. Johnson is known to have attended at least two further events of the 12 being investigated by police, meaning he could be fined again. Opposition parties are calling for the PM and chancellor to resign over their fines - but the two men have been backed by their fellow cabinet ministers. More than 70 Conservative MPs have expressed their support for the PM since he was fined, including some who have previously called for him to go. Since Johnson was fined last week, only a handful of Tory MPs have publicly said he should quit. — BBC
