The Guardian leads with an exclusive story on Boris Johnson and his legal defence in the Partygate inquiry. The paper says that spending watchdog officials are “examining the decision to provide £220,000 of taxpayers’ money” for the former prime minister’s legal advice. No decision on a formal investigation has been made yet, it adds. It comes as Mr Johnson defended his actions in No 10 during lockdown again on Wednesday, saying he had thought he was acting within the rules.