The report exposing Boris Johnson's deliberate deception regarding the Downing Street parties has received overwhelming support from British parliamentarians.
With 354 votes in favor and only seven against, the House of Commons has made its stance clear. The Joint Committee, consisting mostly of Conservative Party members, revealed Johnson's repeated misconduct in claiming that Covid regulations were strictly adhered to at Government House.
Despite some of Johnson's allies questioning the committee's impartiality and vowing to vote against the report, 118 ruling party members voted in favor, while others abstained or were absent. Notably, former Prime Minister Theresa May, a senior leader within the Conservative Party, expressed her support for the report's findings.
The Privileges Committee, which also holds a Conservative majority, has been tasked with investigating whether Johnson misled MPs about the Downing Street parties during the Covid lockdown, now infamously known as the "Partygate" scandal.
The parliamentary committee's findings indicate that Johnson intentionally made misleading statements to Parliament regarding the events at Government House. Prior to the report's release, Johnson had already announced his resignation as a member of Parliament, dismissing the committee as a "sham court."
The committee's investigation revealed that Johnson's actions were deemed as "contempt" towards parliament, resulting in stricter penalties being recommended against him. As a consequence, the committee suggested a lengthy suspension of ninety days for Johnson, along with the revocation of his entry pass to Parliament, which he would typically be entitled to as a former MP.
Rishi Sunak, the British Prime Minister, chose not to participate in the discussion and remained tight-lipped about his vote on the report's findings, stating that he didn't want to sway others. This decision was met with criticism from the Liberal Democrats in Parliament, who accused him of cowardly quitting.
Daisy Cooper, the party's deputy leader, didn't hold back, stating that Sunak's silence spoke volumes about his lack of leadership. Meanwhile, during the House of Commons debate, supporters of Prime Minister Johnson criticized the report's conclusions. Leah Ness, Johnson's special aide to parliament, defended him, claiming there was no evidence of intentional deception. She also questioned the committee's impartiality, suggesting that political opportunism was at play.
Jacob Rees-Mogg, a former minister, condemned the proposed suspension of Johnson's membership, calling it a retaliatory punishment. In response to allegations that Johnson's allies had tried to undermine the committee's work.
Rees-Mogg argued that it was fair to criticize any committee's conduct and its members. However, the committee's chairwoman, Harriet Harman, spoke out against the campaign of threats and harassment faced by its members, emphasizing the importance of upholding the integrity of the investigation.
Harman also defended her own impartiality after Rees-Mogg referenced her critical tweets about Boris Johnson, revealing that she had considered stepping down but ultimately decided to continue in her role after receiving assurances from the government. Eventually, a formal vote was held after several MPs vetoed a motion to support the report.
