Boris Johnson was trapped into ‘lying’ about Partygate by Cummings aide, new book claims [Video]

17:40 EST 09 Nov 2024, updated 09:58 EST 10 Nov 2024

Boris Johnson was toppled as prime minister after his close aides briefed the media that some staff in Downing Street had breached Covid rules during social gatherings to trap him into ‘lying’ about it, according to a new book.

Former No 10 adviser Dominic Cummings is said to have hatched the plot as retaliation for alleged briefing against him and his colleagues by Mr Johnson’s wife Carrie.

He is then said to have constructed an elaborate plan to lure the then-prime minister into denying the Covid breaches and lighting the fuse towards his downfall.

The claims, detailed in Out by political writer Tim Shipman, appear to confirm Mr Johnson’s insistence that he was the victim of a ‘political assassination’ by Mr Cummings and his allies.

The book, extracts of which were published in the Sunday Times, traces the origins of the plot back to a conversation between Mr Johnson …