Facts

In response to a series of questions about Partygate, Transport Minister Grant Shapps implied the Prime Minister could not have been partying because his mother died. He said: “It’s probably worth recalling in context that throughout this period the Prime Minister himself had been seriously ill, he lost his mum during the period”. 

Verdict

Boris Johnson’s mother died on 13 September 2021. The party which resulted in Boris Johnson being issued with a Fixed Penalty notice took place in June 2020.

We approached Grant Shapps’ office to give him a chance to comment, but received no response.