Boris Johnson, the former Prime Minister of the UK, is facing a potentially damning report from the House of Commons privileges committee over the partygate scandal. The report will accuse Johnson of misleading MPs over parties held at Downing Street during Covid restrictions. Conservative MPs are calling for Johnson to be barred from returning to parliament and from running for another constituency. Johnson recently resigned as deputy for Uxbridge and South Ruislip after claiming that the cross-party privileges committee was conducting “political blockbuster work” against him. The report is due to be published on Thursday, and the matter will be debated in the House of Commons on Monday. Johnson’s future prospects in the House of Lords may also be affected by the report’s findings.
Despite Johnson’s claims that he did not lie about the partygate affair, the committee is likely to consider whether his comments amount to contempt of parliament. The committee’s report is expected to be debated and voted on by lawmakers next week. Since Johnson is no longer an MP, he would be unlikely to face any formal action, but his reputation may be damaged. Several Conservative MPs are calling for Johnson to be excluded from the party’s list of parliamentary candidates and prevented from contesting a seat again. Despite this, some Tory figures are urging the party not to oust Johnson, arguing that members should be allowed to decide whether to nominate him.
Additional Piece:
The partygate scandal involving Boris Johnson has brought parliamentary procedures and political culture under the media spotlight. The scandal has raised questions regarding the integrity of elected representatives and public trust in democratic institutions. With social media and digital journalism platforms, parliamentary procedures and its elected representatives have faced greater scrutiny and accountability. The public expects transparency in government processes and honesty in their elected officials.
The partygate scandal has highlighted the disconnect between politicians and the public. The general public is held to a higher standard in abiding by Covid restrictions than politicians. While citizens faced lockdowns and social distancing measures, politicians were reportedly flouting the rules. The apparent hypocrisy has undermined the government’s messaging and has deepened public scepticism of how the pandemic has been handled. The scandal has also triggered a wider debate on political accountability and transparency in the UK.
The investigation into the partygate affair is expected to set a precedent for future parliamentary procedures, highlighting the need for greater transparency and accountability. It also raises the question of whether there should be greater public scrutiny of politicians and how this could be achieved. Future reforms in parliamentary procedures and campaigns for greater transparency in the political process could see an overhaul in how politicians are held to account.
In conclusion, the partygate scandal has brought to the fore the importance of integrity and transparency in elected officials. The investigation into Boris Johnson’s actions has significance that extends far beyond a single scandal. It is a reminder of the vital role that parliamentary procedures play in ensuring that politicians are held accountable for their actions, and it highlights the need for ongoing reforms to improve the public’s trust in democracy.
—————————————————-
| Article | Link |
|---|---|
| UK Artful Impressions | Premiere Etsy Store |
| Sponsored Content | View |
| 90’s Rock Band Review | View |
| Ted Lasso’s MacBook Guide | View |
| Nature’s Secret to More Energy | View |
| Ancient Recipe for Weight Loss | View |
| MacBook Air i3 vs i5 | View |
| You Need a VPN in 2023 – Liberty Shield | View |
Boris Johnson is facing a “wholly damning” report which will conclude the former prime minister misled MPs over the partygate scandal, with some Conservatives saying he should be barred from returning to parliament.
MPs on the House of Commons privileges committee met on Tuesday to discuss their report, with one person close to the panel saying: “It’s completely, totally damning, one of the clearest cases of contempt I’ve ever seen.”
Some Conservative MPs want Rishi Sunak to block Johnson from entering the party’s list of parliamentary candidates, to prevent him from running for another constituency and from making a comeback in the next general election.
Johnson announced on Friday that it was resign as deputy for Uxbridge and South Ruislip after he claimed that the cross-party privileges committee was engaged in “political blockbuster work” against him.
The committee has investigated whether it deliberately misled MPs after it claimed Covid rules were being followed at all times following media reports of Downing Street parties held during the coronavirus restrictions.
Boris Johnson testifies to the privileges committee © Parliamentlive.tv
Johnson made a belated presentation to the committee around midnight on Monday, according to his spokesperson, who added that panelists would address his grievances and “report promptly.”
But it does mean publication of the Johnson report is now scheduled for Thursday and will be debated in the House of Commons on Monday, according to a person close to the committee.
Johnson urged the committee to proceed with publishing the report to “let the world judge their nonsense”. Insisting that “there was no excuse for the delay”, he also complained that “the committee’s absurdly unfair rules do not even allow for any criticism of their conclusions”.
Conservative officials said the government would take steps on Wednesday to launch a parliamentary by-election for the seat of Johnson and that of his ally Nigel Adams, who resigned as MP for Selby and Ainsty in Yorkshire last week.
Sunak’s allies said it would be a matter for an internal Conservative party process whether Johnson would be allowed to run again as a parliamentary candidate.
Meanwhile, Johnson could find any prospects of a future passage in the House of Lords blocked if, as expected, the privileges committee condemns his actions as prime minister.
“It may not be a complete disqualification, but it would be an important factor to consider,” said a former member of the Lords’ Nominations Committee, which monitors peerage nominations.
Johnson said on Friday that the privileges committee did not believe his claims that he “didn’t lie” about the partygate affair.
“They have deliberately chosen to ignore the truth,” she said, adding: “Their aim from the start has been to find me guilty, regardless of the facts. This is the very definition of a kangaroo court.”
The committee will consider whether Johnson’s critical comments, echoed by other Conservative MPs sympathetic to the former prime minister, amount to contempt of parliament.
The Committee published a test booklet in March, which undermined the former prime minister’s claim that officials had told him social distancing guidelines were being followed at Downing Street rallies held during the pandemic.
Simon Case, the cabinet secretary, replied ‘No’ when asked by the committee whether he had ensured that guidance was always followed.
Jack Doyle, director of communications at the time, also told the committee “No” when asked if he had reassured Johnson that Covid rules and guidelines were being followed at all times.
Martin Reynolds, Johnson’s top private secretary during the pandemic, took issue with the then prime minister’s plan to tell MPs in December 2021 that the rules had not been broken.
“[I] questioned whether it was realistic to argue that all guidelines were being followed at all times,” he said.
It is a contempt of parliament to lie to the House of Commons. Johnson’s rep declined to comment.
The committee’s findings are expected to be debated – and voted on – by lawmakers next week, according to people familiar with the matter.
Simon Case, left, and Boris Johnson at a rally in Downing Street, June 2020 © Sue Gray Report/Cabinet Office/PA
Chris Bryant, Labor chairman of the Commons standards committee, said since Johnson was no longer an MP, the real damage to the former prime minister would be to his reputation.
“There’s basically not much we can do but condemn and pour manure on someone’s head,” Bryant added.
Several Conservatives are urging Downing Street to ensure Johnson, who was removed from the list of approved Conservative parliamentary candidates after resigning as MP for Uxbridge, is not allowed to contest a seat again.
A cabinet minister explicitly said that before Johnson could make a comeback, he would first have to “get on the shortlist”. A former cabinet minister said: “He will not and should not be allowed to return.”
However, some leading Tory figures believe it would be wrong to provoke a new falling out with Johnson.
“We should let members decide whether he should be a parliamentary candidate, not stitch him up within the party,” said a Conservative official.
https://www.ft.com/content/411a7729-5d25-4b86-be5b-ecdff75d25e9
—————————————————-