Facts

Labour MP Justin Madders asked Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab about reports that Boris Johnson met a former KGB agent in 2018. Raab replied that he was “talking total nonsense.”

Boris Johnson did meet a former KGB agent when he was Foreign Secretary in 2018. He admitted this in July 2022 in the Commons Liaison Committee. 

When Justin Madders wrote to Dominic Raab to ask for an apology, Raab did not reply. Instead a junior did so, and did not apologise. 

Verdict

Dominic Raab, not Justin Madders, was talking total nonsense. According to the Ministerial Code,  “It is of paramount importance that Ministers give accurate and truthful information to Parliament, correcting any inadvertent error at the earliest opportunity.  Ministers who knowingly mislead Parliament will be expected to offer their resignation to the Prime Minister.”  

Dominic Raab was misleading Parliament. He has not corrected his false statement, despite being given an opportunity to do so, meaning that his remark is in breach of the Ministerial Code.

We emailed Mr Raab’s office offering him the chance to respond. The email was received, but no reply.