It was a sign of how fraught the relationship has become between journalists covering Westminster politics – known as the lobby – and No 10. Twice a day, journalists who are members of the parliamentary lobby – covering policies from Westminster – can attend a briefing with either the prime minister’s official representative or his deputy. Boris Johnson ‘didn’t remember’ being told allegations against Chris Pincher – video These updates can vary on any topic of the day: whatever the journalists present want to cover. Responses may be quoted directly, in quotation marks, as the government’s on-the-record view. Journalists naturally have a healthy skepticism, not to say cynicism, of everyone they deal with – but a relationship with any spokesperson is based on a basic level of trust, which has been sorely lacking lately. Johnson’s spokesman, who is a civil servant, had already apologized for the Downing Street press office misleading reporters about Partygate, repeatedly insisting no parties took place and that Covid guidelines were followed. This then seemed particularly egregious given that some of the heavy gatherings described in Sue Gray’s damning report took place in the press office (although the current official spokesman was not there for much of the time). Now once again, they have misled reporters about what the prime minister knew, and when, about the past behavior of former deputy leader Chris Pincher. Journalists expect bluster and spin from the cops – the political advisers with whom politicians surround themselves – although even here, a relationship of trust depends on the absence of outright lies. But public service representatives tend to be more circumspect, sticking scrupulously to the facts – albeit clearly from the government’s perspective. The civil servant code sets out the values that should inform the conduct of civil servants, including ‘honesty’. Elaborating on this, it adds: “You must: report the facts and related issues truthfully and correct any errors as soon as possible.” Cabinet secretary Simon Case, the most senior civil servant, fumed about the role of No 10 press officers in the Partygate cover-up when he appeared before a committee of MPs last week. Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell asked him what action could be taken if the press office was full of what he called “lying toads”. Case, who appeared flustered and agitated at various points during the hearing, said the press officers were not exempt from disciplinary proceedings following the scandal. Of course, even the best press officers can only convey the version of the truth they’ve been given – and with a Prime Minister who habitually misrepresents the truth, that job is especially difficult. As Johnson’s spokesman said: “I will always seek to provide information that is available to me at the time of each update.” He appeared not to have been told by the prime minister that Johnson knew about the complaint against Chris Pincher in 2019, until former Foreign Office permanent secretary Simon McDonald’s damning public letter on Tuesday morning revealed that Johnson had been informed at the time . Those who have worked with Johnson in the past say his first instinct when cornered is often to suggest he say something, rather than face the reality of the situation. Dominic Cummings’ ‘trolley’ analogy of the prime minister represents how Johnson’s judgment can veer all over the place – but those who know him well say his version of the truth can also veer wildly. Subscribe to First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every morning at 7am. BST For public servants with a wider duty, to taxpayers as well as the government of the day, this can create painful dilemmas, as Case indicated at last week’s hearing when he said this government was one that “believes it has a mandate to test the specified limits’. Few in Westminster would dispute that it is Boris Johnson who must bear the ultimate responsibility for the untruths pouring out of Downing Street in recent months. But whatever its cause, the result was a complete breakdown of confidence.
