Harwich MP Sir Bernard Jenkin cleared of 'partygate' wrongdoing

Despite the admission, the parliamentary commissioner for standards, Daniel Greenberg, has cleared Sir Bernard of any wrongdoing over his involvement in the “partygate” scandal.

In a report published on Tuesday, it was confirmed that a drinks event did take place in parliament on December 8, 2020.

The government had placed the country into a tiered lockdown system six days earlier and, at the time, London was in the second tier which banned socialising indoors with anyone from another household or support bubble.

'Birthday drinks'

Sir Bernard’s ex-wife, Baroness Anne Jenkin, organised the event and sent invitations on the messaging app WhatsApp, in which she described the party as “birthday drinks”.

In a letter to Mr Greenberg, the Conservative MP confirmed he “did attend the event in question” for “about 40 minutes”.

He said the party was “primarily intended to provide an occasion to promote the work of Women2Win”, an organisation founded by Baroness Jenkin.

Family - Sir Bernard and Baroness Jenkin outside Buckingham Palace with their sons Robert and Peter (Image: N/A)

“Anne and I were due to celebrate her birthday alone together at dinner that evening in a restaurant near Tower Bridge and a reservation had been made for 8pm,” Sir Bernard wrote.

“I had also agreed to attend the online Zoom meeting of my local Conservative association executive, which commenced at or soon after 6pm, and at which, as usual, I was asked to speak.”

In his written evidence, Sir Bernard admitted he regretted attending the event.

He added: “In retrospect, given the acute hardship these rules inflicted on the public, and the need for those in public life to set an example, whatever the position in law, I should have been mindful how such an event could be construed, and I wish I had not attended.”

Mr Greenberg concluded allegations of wrongdoing against Sir Bernard should not be upheld because he had not seen sufficient evidence to believe the MP’s behaviour would cause significant damage to the reputation of parliament.

Speaking to the Harwich and Manningtree Standard, Sir Bernard said he is “glad to have been completely exonerated”.

He said: “Both the police and the parliamentary investigator have found that I did not break the law or the Covid guidance in force at that time.”