This is The Guardian.

It was quite a big day for former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

People who say that we were partly in lockdown

simply do not know what they are talking about.

Wednesday, he appeared in front of the House of Commons privileges committee

to defend himself against allegations that he misled parliament

over social gatherings at number 10.

His basic defence was that those gatherings were necessary

to the functioning of government and therefore within the rules and guidance.

I can see my people might have felt that way,

but as I told the House when I came to a report on that event,

I still believe it was within the guidance and within the rule.

So, two questions we've asked a few times in the recent past.

Is this the beginning of the end of Boris Johnson's political career?

And how will this play with millions of people who do if we followed the rules,

even a huge personal cost?

I'm John Harris and you'll listen to politics week UK to the Guardian.

Appropriately enough, this week will mark the third anniversary of the first British lockdown.

We're recording this on Wednesday evening after Boris Johnson

was questioned by MPs on the House of Commons privileges committee

who were deciding whether he intentionally or recklessly,

that's their words, lied to the House of Commons in December 2021.

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