Boris Johnson has suffered humiliating blows to his authority after lawmakers backed a formal investigation into whether he lied to parliament and senior party figures called for him to resign.
The prime minister will now be investigated by the Municipal Commission for allegations that he misled MPs about blocking parties – a potential resignation issue under the ministerial code.
The move came after the government tried to delay the investigation, only to make a U-turn hours later amid a backlash.
Speaking during a Commons debate following chaotic scenes in Westminster, former Brexit minister Steve Baker, an influential Conservative figure, said he was appalled by Johnson’s personal attitude to the fine he received for violating Covid’s rules, and said that the prime minister “must have disappeared a long time ago.”
Others have indicated that they have told the Tories that they will not block or delay a new Partygate investigation.
The Guardian may reveal that former Health Minister Jeremy Hunt told voters he had warned the whips that he would not support delays in the investigation.
Hunt said in an email to voters that he found the fines imposed on Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak “shocking and disappointing.” “Now we will also see how the Privileges Committee investigates whether parliament has been deceived,” he wrote. “I have made it clear to the government that I would not support any action to delay such an investigation if we were asked to do so. But in the end, fortunately, we weren’t. “
He said he would not make a final decision until the end of the process, but did not believe that now was the “best time” to replace the prime minister. While other prime ministers were removed during the war, “in this situation we just have to ask ourselves whether Vladimir Putin will be happy to see a two-month race for leadership in Britain?” Hunt added.
The turmoil in Westminster threatened to overshadow the prime minister’s trade trip to India, where he toured Ahmedabad as lawmakers discussed his political future for four hours in the municipal hall.
Minutes before the debate over whether to refer Johnson to the Privileges Committee, government whips withdrew their amendment – introduced Wednesday night – that would postpone any vote on the investigation until the final report of Sue Gray Partygate is published.
The Labor proposal was accepted Thursday, although the Privileges Committee’s investigation will not begin weeks or months after the police and Gray investigations are over.
Speaking on a trip to India, Johnson’s spokesman tried to suggest that the prime minister was calm about referring to the Privileges Committee without “worrying.”
During the municipality’s debate, William Ragg, chairman of the municipality’s constitutional affairs committee, said he had written a letter of no confidence in the prime minister and would have revolted if the government had not withdrawn its amendment.
He said: “We worked in a toxic atmosphere. The parliamentary party bears the marks of the wrong assessments of the leadership. I would argue that there may be a few colleagues on this side of the house who are really happy to be Members of Parliament at the moment. It is utterly depressing to be asked to protect the defenseless. Every time some of us wither. ”
Steve Baker had previously told the Commons that he was ready to forgive Johnson, but said the prime minister’s bullish approach to fines, during a private meeting of the rear judges in 1922 this week, had changed his mind. . He said Johnson’s remorse “only lasts as long as it takes to get out of the director’s office.”
Baker added: “I have to say that I am sorry that because I did not obey the letter and the spirit – and I think we have heard that the Prime Minister really knew what the letter was – the Prime Minister should have left a long time ago. I will definitely vote in favor of this proposal. But in fact, the prime minister just needs to know that the concert is ready.
Bob Neal, who chairs the Justice Committee, stopped calling for Johnson to leave, but said he planned to abstain on the Labor proposal.
“I am deeply disappointed with what happened at number 10. People were very disappointed, my constituents feel badly disappointed, I personally feel badly disappointed and there must be consequences that follow,” he said.
Conservative MP Anthony Mangle said he could not forgive Johnson for misleading parliament. “I forgive the prime minister for these mistakes, but I do not forgive him for misleading the house, as I see it.
Tobias Eloud, the Tory chairman of the municipality’s defense committee, who has already called for the prime minister to leave, tweeted that it was time for his colleagues to “stop drinking Kool Aid”.
Opening the debate, Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer said it was imperative that lawmakers assess whether Johnson had deliberately misled them by denying violations of the Partygate blockade on Downing Street.
Starmer said: “He stood in front of this house and said things that are not true, certainly he will not be accused of lying. He stood in front of this sending box and categorically denied that there had been a breach of the rules when this happened.
“When he did, he hoped to gain additional protection from our assumption and the public assumption that no prime minister would deliberately deceive the house. He uses our good faith to cover up his atrocities. “
Boris Johnson denies cheating parliament and says he wants to focus on travel to India – video
Speaking to reporters during a trade visit to India, Johnson said he had changed his position on the amendment because he had “nothing to hide” but seemed annoyed by Labor’s determination to keep pushing for the issue.
“People are saying that we seem to be trying to stop things. I didn’t want that. I didn’t want people to be able to say that. I don’t want this thing to go on indefinitely, “he told Sky News. “But I honestly have absolutely nothing to hide. If the opposition wants to talk about it, that’s fine. “
Asked about Baker’s call for resignation, Johnson said: “I understand people’s feelings. I don’t think that’s the right thing to do. ” However, he acknowledged that the situation was serious.
On Wednesday, the Tory whips tried to find a way to block or postpone the investigation by the Privileges Committee. But lawmakers personally and publicly demanded that the whips not allow Labor to present them as covert.
Add Comment