Thread by @jonlis1

Jesus, looks as though Johnson’s had a haircut. He didn’t even do that to announce the death of Prince Philip

He’s rushing through this speech and the perfunctory ‘sorrys’. For someone renowned for being such an actor he’s already giving a shit performance

Clearly the intention is to sound as though he’s on top of this and has the authority to drive through it by sheer force of personality - but the upshot is he isn’t showing any contrition in tone or body language whatsoever

‘I get it and I will fix it’. Groans. I think he may get it quite soon.

‘We said that we’d get Brexit done and we did.’ Now it’s definitely over.

Bottom line: Johnson doesn’t want to talk about any of it and raced through the speech as fast as he could. It was a speech squarely aimed at his backbenchers. The problem is that anyone watching it on TV tonight will find it arrogant and putrid.

Starmer: ‘12 gatherings have reached the threshold for criminal investigation.’ Refers to parties that the prime minister personally attended. ‘He’s subject to investigation.’ Lawyers, eh?!

Now talking about people’s suffering in lockdown - their guilt at missing out on seeing friends and relatives, on life itself, because they followed the rules. Commends their sacrifice. Real anger in his voice. The contrast between the two men has never seemed starker.

Oof. ‘Every step of the way he’s insulted the public’s intelligence. It’s everyone’s fault but his. He gleefully treats a mark of shame as a welcome shield. He’s a man without shame. As he’s done his whole life, he’s damaged everyone and everything around him on the way.’

This is a superb speech. ‘To govern this country is an honour, not a birthright. It’s not the keys to a court to entertain your friends. I have never accepted that his lack of integrity is priced in. Honesty and decency, cherishing democracy is what it means to be patriotic.’

All Johnson now has is smears. Says Starmer didn’t reference the report (he did, and all details absent!), and accuses Starmer of mostly prosecuting journalists and failing to prosecute Jimmy Saville. Last writhing death throes of a desperate snake.

Johnson is in full bully mode. Throwing everything he can: now issuing bullshit about the EMA and Russia. He is a foul piece of work.

Wow. May finally sticks the knife in. ‘Either the PM didn’t read the rules or didn’t understand them, or No 10 didn’t think the rules applied to them. Which is it?’

Johnson tells her the Gray report didn’t say that. Nothing will ever exonerate May but that was a devastating intervention.

Blackford says Johnson has debased the office of prime minister. Says he will try to force gov to publish report in full. He looks incandescent.

Hoyle tells Blackford to withdraw word ‘misled’. Blackford refuses and doubles down. Tensest of scenes. Blackford shouts PM lied and misled House. Hoyle, pathetically, ludicrously, demands he withdraw it. Blackford eventually offers the word ‘inadvertently’. Ridiculous country.

Now Hoyle expels Blackford from the House. Expelled for stating a truth every single sentient being in the country can understand. What a pathetic rule and state of affairs. Pathetic.

More drama. Former loyalist Andrew Mitchell withdraws his confidence in Johnson.

Davey talks about the suffering of people who had to bury their children while No 10 partied. ‘Does he care about the hurt of bereaved families around the country?’ Think I can answer this one for you, Ed

Johnson gives himself away every time. He just doesn’t do empathy. The words roll off the tongue without any emotional attachment to them. His only emotion is indignation at being challenged. Beginning to wonder if he may be a sociopath who only cares about himself

Yikes. Bernard Jenkin tells Starmer that the Tories need no lessons in ‘disposing of failing leaders’. Johnson meekly thanks him.

Diane Abbott asks PM to give undertaking that the full report will eventually be published. Johnson pointedly refuses to do so.

Jess Phillips asks Johnson if he was in the flat on 13 November. ‘Presumably he doesn’t need an investigation to tell him.’ Johnson says she’ll have to wait for the investigation. That’ll be a yes, then.

That was a really important moment. If Johnson hadn’t been present at a party in his own flat at height of second lockdown he’d have been only too delighted to confirm it. But he was there. He flagrantly broke his own law and then he repeatedly lied.

Julian Lewis, Tory grandee, urges Johnson to publish unredacted version immediately.

This is going worse for Johnson than I expected.

Chris Bryant: ‘this is who the prime minister is.’

‘A leopard doesn’t change its spots. Every single person who defends this will face it again and again and again. If he doesn’t correct the record today, it’s not accidental, it’s deliberate.’

Some Tory backbencher now making out as though British soldiers are about to go and fight in Ukraine. The Falklands card has officially been played.

Steve Baker now. Condemns ‘bullying’ public health campaign during lockdown. Johnson facing wrath from both sides of the Covid divide.

Johnson gave a hint of the new strategy: the deeply disingenuous argument that Gray is either ‘damning’ or ‘incomplete’ but can’t be both. He’s presumably using this line to deflect pressure to publish the full inquiry later on.

Caroline Lucas condemns the Tories for considering only their narrow party interests over integrity. ‘PM clearly a bad apple.’ Calls for reform of the ministerial code, designed for the false assumption that PM is honourable.

Comic relief as a dull stooge announces her constituents want PM to get on with stuff that matters to them, and Hoyle points out Johnson asked to come and give this statement himself

There have been some supportive backbench voices today but generally been muted. Obviously can’t be sure but doesn’t seem good for him.

Right, off to discuss it with @pimlicat on @BestForBritain Twitter spaces