Boris Johnson aimed to end months of political turmoil when he apologized to the House of Commons this week for breaking the U.K. lockdown rules that he brought into force.

Instead, the beleaguered prime minister appeared to be in trouble again with his ruling Conservative Party, whose Members of Parliament are increasingly jaded by the drip-drip of scandal.

Far from drawing a line under "partygate,” Johnson now faces a third inquiry into the matter — this time on whether he lied to Parliament — prolonging the turbulence surrounding his leadership.