Thursday briefing: The key takeaways from Boris Johnson’s Partygate grilling
GuardianMAY 2023
The Spin
Left narrative
This is a huge setback for Rishi Sunak, who had promised to put integrity, professionalism, and accountability at the heart of his administration. He must now explain why he failed to come clean when asked about the shares his family held in a company that is set to benefit from his pilot childcare policy. The public wants a government focused on the country rather than one which bends the rules and avoids proper scrutiny for its own financial gain.
Right narrative
There isn't anything sinister about how Rishi Sunak declared his wife's shares. He did so via a ministerial declaration, as opposed to through the Commons, and he has assured the standards commissioner he will work cooperatively to clear up any outstanding questions. There's no need to doubt Sunak's integrity and ethics.