Boris Johnson is "looking forward" to his four hour partygate grilling in front of the Privileges Committee on Wednesday, an ally of the former prime minister has claimed.

Conor Burns, a Tory MP and former minister, said he had spoken to Mr Johnson yesterday afternoon and the ex-premier was "looking forward to the opportunity" to get his "case out there".

Mr Burns also said Mr Johnson had been quiet on the partygate probe in recent months because he had been "absolutely focused on marshalling the arguments" and "collating the evidence" so people can reach a conclusion "based on facts rather than speculation and emotion".

The comments, made last night to BBC Westminster Hour, came as the committee prepares to publish a written submission from Mr Johnson in which the former premier will set out his defence against claims he lied to Parliament over the partygate scandal.

The seven-member Privileges Committee, chaired by Labour’s Harriet Harman but with a Tory majority, will decide whether Mr Johnson misled the Commons with his denials of lockdown rule-breaking in No10 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

If the MPs believe he did mislead the House, they will consider whether it was "reckless or intentional" and amounted to a contempt of Parliament.

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