Boris Johnson: MPs to conclude Partygate inquiry
MPs investigating whether Boris Johnson misled Parliament about lockdown parties in Downing Street will meet on Monday to conclude their inquiry.
Mr Johnson resigned as an MP dramatically on Friday after he was sent an advanced copy of the Privileges Committee report.
The former prime minister described the committee as a “kangaroo court” trying to “drive him out of Parliament”.
The report will be finalised today and is likely to be published this week.
For almost one year, the seven-person committee – a majority of whom are Conservatives – have been considering whether Mr Johnson misled MPs about what he knew about Covid breaches in Downing Street.
In evidence given in March, Mr Johnson admitted misleading Parliament, but denied doing it on purpose.
The committee had been preparing to recommend suspending Mr Johnson as an MP for 10 days or more, the BBC was told, a threshold which would have resulted in a recall petition among his constituents and a potential by-election.
In an angry statement announcing his resignation on Friday, Mr Johnson accused them of carrying out a “political hit job on someone they oppose”.
A spokesperson for the committee hit back, saying the MPs had followed proper processes and Mr Johnson had “impugned the integrity” of the Commons with his statement.
On Monday, cabinet minister Michael Gove said he disagreed with the description of the committee as a kangaroo court, adding he had “respect” for their work.
Members of the Privileges Committee have been offered additional security, the BBC’s Chris Mason says.
Our political editor says there is widespread anger among the MPs’ colleagues – from many political parties – that the tenor, tone and language of some of the criticisms of the committee, from Mr Johnson and others, has contributed to an atmosphere where committee members feel vulnerable.
Key supporters
Mr Johnson stood down from Parliament just hours after Downing Street published his resignation honours list without the names of key supporters, including Nadine Dorries, Sir Alok Sharma and Nigel Adams.
All three had been expecting to be appointed to the House of Lords.
Competing claims about how and why the names were removed are now at the heart of a rift within the Tory party following the former PM’s resignation.
A source familiar with the process has told the BBC that Mr Sunak’s political team removed some of Mr Johnson’s suggestions months ago. On Sunday, Energy Secretary Grant Shapps denied this.
The House of Lords Appointments Commission (HOLAC) – the official body for checking and vetting new peers – has confirmed it rejected eight of Mr Johnson’s nominations on the grounds of propriety.
Within 24 hours of the list being published, both Ms Dorries and Mr Adams resigned as MPs – triggering by-elections in their constituencies, both of which are considered safe seats for the Conservatives.
Mr Johnson’s resignation also triggers a by-election in his marginal constituency of Uxbridge and South Ruislip.
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