Facts 

In an interview with ITV News, Simon Clarke, Chief Secretary to the Treasury was asked “who initiated the meeting between the Prime Minister and Sue Gray”. He responded “That meeting was held at the instigation of Ms Gray”

Simon Clarke spoke after a Daily Mail report quoted Whitehall sources stating that the “meeting between Boris Johnson and Sue Gray was requested by her.” 

A few hours later hapless Simon Clarke was disowned by the official Downing Street spokesperson who said that the meeting was instigated by No 10 and not Gray.

Verdict

Humiliating for the wretched Clarke. Again and again, Boris Johnson’s ministers and MPs would utter lies and fabrications on behalf of the Prime Minister which later turned out to be false. Here is the most egregious example. It is just one among many.

We approached the Treasury press office and Mr Clarke’s office to give him a chance to comment, but received no response.