Shocking Revelation: Boris Johnson’s Plea With Allies to Keep Damaging Reports Secret!

Title: Boris Johnson Urges Allies to Avoid Opposing Damning Report on Partygate Scandal

Introduction:
Boris Johnson, the former prime minister of the UK, is facing a damning report from the Commons Privileges Committee, which accuses him of lying to MPs about parties held during Covid-19 restrictions. The report’s release has raised the likelihood of a parliamentary vote on his conduct. However, Johnson has urged his allies not to oppose the report, potentially avoiding a humiliating vote. This move has sparked speculation about his motivations and the level of support he commands within the Conservative Party.

Johnson’s Allies Urged Not to Oppose the Report:
In a strategic move, Boris Johnson has instructed his allies not to oppose the Commons Privileges Committee report that condemns him for deliberately misleading the House of Commons. By doing so, he hopes to avoid a parliamentary vote on his conduct, which could result in a humiliating defeat. The report, released on Thursday, accuses Johnson of lying to MPs about Downing Street parties held during the Covid-19 restrictions.

Likelihood of Parliamentary Vote:
The government was preparing for a Commons vote on Monday to approve the committee report. However, a group of Tory MPs loyal to Johnson had intended to oppose it. In an effort to ensure the report is approved without a vote, Johnson has urged his allies to step down. While a vote remains possible, the Labour Party is not expected to impose one. The Liberal Democrats are still considering their options.

Johnson’s Rationale for Not Objecting to the Report:
According to a source close to Boris Johnson, there is no practical effect in voting on the report, which is why he has instructed his allies not to oppose it. However, some Conservative MPs suspect that Johnson’s decision is motivated by a desire to avoid exposing his limited support within the Conservative parliamentary party. In a prior Commons rebellion against Rishi Sunak’s deal with the EU, only 21 Conservative MPs joined Johnson, highlighting a lack of backing for him amongst his party members.

Johnson’s Appointment as a Daily Mail Columnist:
Boris Johnson has also confirmed that he will join the Daily Mail as a columnist. This move potentially provides him with a platform to criticize Rishi Sunak. However, Johnson’s first column focused on his unsuccessful use of a weight-loss drug rather than politics. The Whitehall watchdog overseeing appointments made by former ministers has criticized Johnson for not obtaining permission for his role at the Mail. The watchdog states that Johnson violated the rules by informing them of his appointment just half an hour before it was announced.

Backlash and Deselection Threats:
The possibility of a parliamentary vote on the Privileges Committee report has made the Conservative Parliamentary Party nervous. MPs who support the report have faced threats of deselection battles. The Conservative Democratic Organization, launched by Johnson’s allies, has received messages from furious Tory activists opposing the report. Some Conservative MPs plan to absent themselves from parliament to avoid the vote, while others may abstain. This deliberate abstention has received criticism from veteran Conservative MP Damian Green.

Privileges Committee’s Report on Attacks on MPs:
The Privileges Committee’s plan to produce a report on attacks on MPs during the Johnson investigation has faced backlash. Conservative MP Sir Jake Berry, a Johnson ally, believes the report is an “attack on free speech.”

Summary:
Boris Johnson has urged his allies not to oppose a damning report from the Commons Privileges Committee, which accuses him of lying to MPs about parties held during Covid-19 restrictions. This move by Johnson could potentially help him avoid a humiliating parliamentary vote on his conduct. The government expected a vote on Monday to approve the report, but Johnson’s loyalist MPs had planned to oppose it. Johnson’s decision has sparked speculation about his motives and the level of support he commands within the Conservative Party. Additionally, Johnson confirmed his role as a columnist for the Daily Mail, and the Privileges Committee’s plan to produce a report on attacks on MPs has faced backlash.

Additional Piece: Analysis of Johnson’s Leadership and Political Climate

Boris Johnson’s decision to urge his allies not to oppose the damning report sheds light on his leadership style and the current political climate in the UK. This move can be seen as a calculated effort to protect his reputation and avoid further damage to his political standing. However, it also raises questions about his ability to unite and lead his party effectively.

One could argue that Johnson’s reluctance to face a parliamentary vote reflects his fear of a potential defeat and the implications it may have on his leadership. By avoiding such a vote, he can maintain the illusion of a united party and downplay dissent within its ranks. This strategy may help him cling to power in the short term, but it risks further eroding public trust and damaging the Conservative Party’s credibility.

Moreover, Johnson’s decision to join the Daily Mail as a columnist is notable for multiple reasons. First, it provides him with a platform to exert influence and shape public opinion, especially with regards to his potential adversary Rishi Sunak. Writing for a popular newspaper like the Daily Mail allows Johnson to project his views and potentially undermine his political rivals. However, the watchdog’s criticism of Johnson’s failure to obtain permission for this role suggests a lack of transparency and adherence to ethical standards.

In the broader political context, Johnson’s actions reflect the challenges faced by the Conservative Party in maintaining unity and navigating difficult policy decisions. The threat of deselection battles and the rise of internal factions highlight the deep divisions within the party. The Privileges Committee’s report on attacks on MPs during the Johnson investigation also exposes the vulnerability faced by politicians who speak out against their own party’s leadership.

Overall, Johnson’s efforts to avoid a parliamentary vote on the damning report and secure a role as a columnist demonstrate his ongoing struggle to hold onto power and maintain control within the Conservative Party. The political climate in the UK remains turbulent, with divisions becoming increasingly apparent. The outcome of these developments will likely shape the future of both Johnson’s leadership and the wider political landscape in the UK.

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Boris Johnson has urged his allies not to oppose a damning report that he lied to MPs about the partygate scandal, raising the likelihood he could avoid a humiliating parliamentary vote on his conduct.

The Commons Privileges Committee report on the former prime minister released on Thursday condemned him for deliberately misleading the House of Commons in its statements to MPs on Downing Street parties held during the Covid-19 restrictions.

The government expected a Commons vote on Monday to approve the committee report, and a group of Tory MPs who are Johnson loyalists had said they would oppose it.

But Johnson He has since urged his allies to step down, a person close to him said, in a move that raises the likelihood of the relationship approved without a vote.

A vote remains possible, although Labor is not expected to impose one. The Liberal Democrats are still weighing their options.

Conservative MPs Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, Sir Simon Clarke and Brendan Clarke-Smith were among seven Johnson loyalists who publicly criticized the privileges committee’s report, although supporters of the former prime minister admitted they were well aware below the numbers needed to get any vote.

Explaining Johnson’s rationale for instructing his allies not to object to the report, a person close to him said: “There is no point in voting, it has no practical effect.”

However, other Conservative MPs suspected that Johnson’s position was motivated by a desire to avoid exposing the paucity of his support for the Conservative parliamentary party.

Just 21 Conservative MPs joined a Johnson-led Commons rebellion in March against Rishi Sunak’s deal with the EU to overhaul Northern Ireland’s post-Brexit trade deals.

Meanwhile Johnson confirmed he would join the Daily Mail as a columnist, in a move that could give him a platform from which to attack Sunak. However, his first column steered clear of politics and instead focused on his unsuccessful use of a weight-loss drug.

The Whitehall watchdog that monitors appointments made by former ministers was quick to complain that Johnson hadn’t gotten permission for his role at the Mail.

Johnson committed a “clear violation” of the rules by informing the corporate nominations advisory board of the role just half an hour before it was announced, the watchdog said.

Previously, the possibility of a vote by MPs on the privileges committee’s report had made the Conservative Parliamentary Party nervous following threats that those who supported it could face deselection battles.

The Conservative Democratic Organization, a group launched by Johnson’s allies after he resigned as prime minister, has been inundated with messages from Tory activists who are furious at the report, according to its chairman David Campbell Bannerman.

The former Conservative MEP said groups of party members were “concerned about what they call a mend, what I call a coup”.

In a warning to Conservatives in Westminster, he said the Conservative Democratic Organization was advising members on the process of de-selecting their local MP as a candidate in the next election.

Some Conservative MPs plan to absent themselves from parliament to avoid any vote on the Privileges Committee report, while others may be present but could abstain.

Veteran Conservative MP Damian Green has expressed exasperation at the prospect of colleagues refusing to vote. “The deliberate abstention really falls short of the importance of the occasion,” he told the BBC.

Downing Street declined to confirm whether Sunak intended to vote on the commission’s report.

Meanwhile, the plan by the privileges committee to produce a report on attacks on MPs during the Johnson investigation has sparked a backlash.

Conservative MP Sir Jake Berry, a Johnson ally, told ITV the report was an “attack on free speech”.

https://www.ft.com/content/47a496ff-ee02-4e09-9ce1-6133a1fa1c07
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