Why it's become impossible to trust a word Boris Johnson's government now says

Even routine government announcements are impossible to take at face value.

I wrote a story on Tuesday about attempts by Boris Johnson’s government to prevent the Sue Gray report from being published, following the announcement that the Metropolitan Police are investigating Downing Street parties.

His official spokesman told a press briefing on Tuesday morning that Gray’s work would have to be “paused” now that the police were involved, with the Prime Minister also no longer being able to answer questions in Parliament on those parties being investigated.

Adam Bienkov @AdamBienkov

BREAKING: Boris Johnson’s spokesman says Sue Gray won’t now continue to investigate, or publish, anything related to the parties now being investigated by the police, while they investigate. He says the Prime Minister won’t answer questions in Parliament on those parties either.

January 25th 2022

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It quickly became clear this was a lie. Sources at the Met told multiple news organisations that there was no such requirement to suppress Sue Gray’s report, or her continuing work.

As a result Downing Street were forced into a retreat and told another briefing later on Tuesday that the report would now be published.

However, when I tweeted the fact that they had abandoned their attempt to bounce sue Gray into not publishing her report I was contacted by one of Johnson’s spokespeople accusing me of misleading the public about their actions.