Facts

Boris Johnson was asked if he would accept the blame for poor results in the May local elections amidst reports of rising anger over breaches of Covid guidelines in Downing Street parties. He responded: 'I always take responsibility for everything.'

He claims to follow rules when in fact he breaks them. As Prime Minister he is personally responsible for enforcing the rules of the ministerial code, but has broken the code countless times - this website itemises more than 70 occasions when Boris Johnson had misled Parliament in defiance of the ministerial code-  and fails to enforce it.  

He responds to policy failures on his watch by outright lies and fabrication of statistics. He makes solemn promises which he casually breaks and enters commitments that can never be met. He lies and cheats with impunity. He blames others for his own failures. Blame shifting and deceit were a core element of Johnson’s response to the Coronavirus tragedy.

No 10 Director of Communications Guto Harri acknowledged that that was a “nasty, misogynist culture" in Johnson‘s Downing Street. But he  insisted that Boris Johnson had "carried the can for the bad behaviour of others."

Verdict

The Prime Minister’s claim that "I always take responsibility for everything" is not simply false. It is the opposite of the truth. Mr Johnson repeatedly avoids responsibility, resorting to evasion and lies rather than face the consequences of his own actions. 

We approached Boris Johnson's office, No10 Press Office and the Cabinet Office to give them a chance to comment, but received no response.