Johnson's "clarification" appears to have been that he was just pointing at a formal apology made by Keir Starmer on behalf of the organisation which he headed and how that had in no way implied that Starmer had done anything wrong.

Of course, as Keir Starmer apologised for the actions of the department he headed then ultimately he was responsible.

Boris is probably clever enough to realise that if his opponents claim Keir Starmer is not responsible then they would be employing double standards to claim that Boris was responsible for the doings of his own underlings in Number 10.