Politics live: 'Huge development' as Boris Johnson 'exposed' by explosive letter on Chris Pincher

Downing Street suggests PM forgot he was briefed on investigation which upheld complaint against Chris Pincher in 2019

He went on:"I think those of you that were here for yesterday's briefing would have heard me say that he was aware of allegations that were either resolved, and that would relate to the FCDO investigation, or that did not progress to a complaint. "A complaint was made. It was looked into through the Foreign Office processes with support from the propriety and ethics team. The complaint was upheld albeit not dealt with as a formal disciplinary matter and was resolved as such.

"It was not raised as a disciplinary issue or anything related to the ministerial code, and the prime minister was informed but not asked to take any action as a result of that. And the minister as a result of that action carried on serving in that department for a number of months." Yesterday education minister Will Quince told Sky News he had received"categorical assurances" from Number 10 that this was the case.

John Penrose, the Conservative MP for Weston-Super-Mare, highlights that Number 10 is said to have lied - breaking one of the Nolan Principles of public life.Mr Ellis says he doesn't accept the premise of the question.William Wragg, the Tory MP for Hazel Grove, said the"question that faces the government... is for them to consider what they are being asked to say in public."

"The permanent secretary commissioned work to establish facts - that was undertaken on his behalf by the Cabinet Office. "The exercise established that while the minister meant no harm, what had occurred caused a high level of discomfort. Ms Rayner said:"The prime minister spoke about personal responsibility, well the minister needs to remind the prime minister of his personal responsibility."

"It is also right that the system that... this House created... namely the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme is allowed to work its course." It comes following a tricky morning for the PM, following allegations from a former senior civil servant that Number 10 was not telling truth.

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