Boris Johnson may get more taxpayers’ money for Partygate defence

Senior civil servant admits budget of £220,000 for ex-PM to defend claims he misled parliament could rise

Boris Johnson could get more taxpayers’ money to cover extra legal support as the inquiry into his Partygate denials drags on, it has emerged.

The cost of helping the former prime minister defend himself over claims he misled parliament about law-breaking parties during Covid “could potentially exceed” the current £222,000 budget, a senior civil servant admitted.