Report on ‘Partygate’ scandal during COVID pandemic saying former PM lied about it gets 354 yes votes in House of Commons
Lawmakers in the UK have voted to adopt a report recommending punishing former Prime Minister Boris Johnson for lying to Parliament about drunken, illegal parties during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The House of Commons on Monday voted 354 to seven to approve the Privileges Committee’s report, which concluded that the former leader should have his parliamentary passport revoked. Had he not already resigned, it would have recommended a 90-day suspension from Parliament as well.
Johnson abruptly resigned from Parliament ten days ago after seeing an advance copy of the report, calling the inquiry a “witch hunt”.
“It’s important to show the public that there isn’t one rule for them and another for us,” said Conservative Party politician Theresa May, Johnson’s predecessor as Prime Minister.
At the start of the five-hour debate, Speaker of the House of Commons Penny Mordaunt called on lawmakers to “do what they think is right”. Mordaunt, a Conservative like Johnson, said she would vote to support the Commons Privileges Committee report.
“This is important because the integrity of our institutions is important. The respect and trust shown to them is important,” said Mordaunt. “This has real implications for MPs’ accountability to each other and to the members of the public they represent.”
“A Series of Commitments”
A handful of Johnson allies spoke out to defend the former leader. MP Lia Nici said: “I cannot think of any evidence that Boris Johnson knowingly, intentionally or recklessly misled Parliament.”
Many Conservative MPs were absent from the debate, including Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Wary of angering Johnson’s remaining supporters, he stayed away.
Max Blain, Sunak’s spokesman, said the prime minister had made “a number of commitments” including a meeting with the Swedish leader.
Johnson, who turned 59 on Monday, was also absent. He resigned as Prime Minister in September 2022 but remained an MP until June 9, when he resigned after being informed of the Privileges Committee findings.
Monday’s debate was the latest aftershock of the “Partygate” scandal involving gatherings at the Prime Minister’s headquarters at Downing Street and other government buildings in 2020 and 2021.
The revelation that political staffers have been holding birthday parties, garden parties and “wine time Fridays” during the pandemic sparked anger from Brits who had abided by rules enacted to stem the spread of the coronavirus and were unable to make friends and family – or even to say goodbye to dying loved ones in hospitals.
Labor MP Chris Bryant said there was “a deep anger” among voters at Partygate.
Memories were revived this week when the Sunday Mirror newspaper published video showing staff drinking and dancing at an event at the Conservative Party headquarters in December 2020, which banned people from different households from meeting indoors.