JOHN Baron today grilled Prime Minister Boris Johnson over whether he mislead Parliament about his awareness of Downing Steet lockdown parties.

Speaking in the House of Commons, the Tory Basildon and Billericay MP said he believed “both leaders have a lot of answer for” – referring to allegation Labour leader Sir Kier Starmer had also broken lockdown rules.

Mr Baron said: “The British Army teaches you, or certainly believes at its very core, that you serve to lead, and you lead by example. Given the extent of rule breaking in Number 10, does my right honourable friend believe that what he has said to the house since, about there being no rule breaking, passes the test of reasonableness?”

Mr Johnson responded: “I believed I was attending work events... That view has been sustained by the investigation.”

The PM claimed to have been “vindicated” by Sue Gray’s inquiry into lockdown-busting events in No 10, even though he has been fined for attending the birthday party thrown for him in the Cabinet Room in June 2020.

Mr Johnson has faced repeated claims that he knowingly misled Parliament – something which would normally result in the resignation of a minister.

He told MPs: “I am happy to set on the record now that when I said – I came to this House and said in all sincerity – the rules and guidance had been followed at all times, it was what I believed to be true.”