Theresa May tears into Boris Johnson over Partygate lies to Parliament
Theresa May lambasted Boris Johnson for repeatedly misleading Parliament over Partygate and urged MPs to back a report branding him a liar.
In what is another political scandal surrounding the former prime minister, only one of his colleagues, Lia Nici, has so far defended him, stressing that the rules were followed and he was only repeating advice given to him.
Watching tonight’s debate on the Privileges Committee report, it is no revelation how many are taking a stand over the parties at Downing Street during Covid-19 lockdowns.
This comes as the Metropolitan Police, Sir Mark Rowley commissioner suggested that further action will be taken against Tory aides seen in a Christmas party held during the pandemic.
Ms May stressed that backing the Privileges Committee’s conclusions would be ‘a small but important step in restoring people’s trust’ in Parliament.
In a veiled swipe at Rishi Sunak’s absence from the chamber, she urged her party to ‘show we are prepared to act when one of our own, however senior, is found wanting’.
The PM has been accused of ‘running scared’ for refusing to say whether he will take part in a potential vote.
He has been urged to ‘show leadership’ on the issue but has insisted he does not want to ‘influence’ how MPs might vote.
No 10 said his schedule on Monday ‘does not include attending Parliament’ and that he has commitments he ‘can’t move’.
The cross-party committee concluded that Mr Johnson, who quit as an MP and labelled the probe a ;kangaroo court’ after being told in advance of its findings, should have faced a 90-day suspension for misleading the House when he told the Commons that Covid rules were obeyed in No 10 despite parties taking place.
It also recommended banning the ex-PM from receiving a pass to Parliament which is usually available to former MPs.
It is not clear whether there will ultimately be a vote on the conclusions of the report, which could go through on the nod unless there are objections from Mr Johnson’s supporters.
Ms May described the report as ‘vigorous’ and told the Commons she accepts the findings.
‘It is not easy to sit in judgment on friends and colleagues,’ she said, adding that ‘but friendship, working together, should not get in the way of doing what is right’.
‘I commend the members of the Privileges Committee for their painstaking work, and for their dignity in the face of slurs on their integrity.
‘To all the members of the committee, this House should… say thank you for your service.’
She added: ‘This committee report matters. This debate matters. And this vote matters.
‘They matter because they strike at the heart of the bond of trust and respect between the public and Parliament that underpin the workings of this place and of our democracy.’
Meanwhile, an ally of Mr Johnson said he would abstain from such a vote because the high number of MPs staying away has ‘made a bit of a farce of it’.
Bassetlaw MP Brendan Clarke-Smith, who previously said he would vote against it, told Channel 4 News: ‘I am not going to be voting one way or the other.
‘I am against the report and its recommendations. It’s not really right. The number of people that are in here, it’s kind of made a bit of a farce of it, I think to be honest.
‘If we had a full house here and everybody was here to vote, I think you’d get a more realistic picture, but you’re not going to get that today. So really, I think I wouldn’t want to legitimise that vote today.”
He denied that support for Mr Johnson is so low that his allies are abstaining to spare him embarrassment.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.