Boris Johnson quits as UK lawmaker after being told he will be sanctioned for misleading Parliament

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In a stunning turn of events, former U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced his resignation as a lawmaker after being informed that he will face sanctions for misleading Parliament. Johnson’s departure came accompanied by a scathing verbal attack on his political opponents, as well as on his successor, Rishi Sunak, potentially exacerbating tensions within the governing Conservative Party.

The decision to resign followed the conclusion of a parliamentary investigation into Johnson’s misleading statements regarding the infamous “partygate” scandal, which involved several government parties in violation of pandemic regulations.

In a lengthy resignation statement, Johnson accused his opponents of a deliberate campaign to force him out and hinted at the possibility of a future return, stating, “It is very sad to be leaving Parliament—at least for now.”

Expressing his surprise, Johnson revealed that he had received a letter from the Privileges Committee, signaling their determination to employ the proceedings against him as a means to drive him out of Parliament. He criticized the committee, labeling it a “kangaroo court” and accusing its members of having a preconceived notion of his guilt, irrespective of the evidence.

As a consequence of his resignation, a special election will be triggered to select a new lawmaker for Johnson’s suburban London constituency.

Johnson’s political career has been marked by a series of scandals and comebacks. While he led the Conservatives to a resounding victory in 2019, he was eventually ousted by his own party less than three years later.

The investigation by the House of Commons standards committee focused on Johnson’s misleading statements about numerous gatherings held in government buildings throughout 2020 and 2021, which violated pandemic lockdown rules. The incidents, including late-night parties and informal gatherings, resulted in 126 fines being issued by the police. Johnson himself received one such fine, and the scandal played a significant role in hastening the end of his premiership.

Although Johnson admitted to misleading Parliament by claiming that no rules had been broken, he maintained that it was unintentional. He asserted that he genuinely believed the events he attended, such as a staff send-off and a surprise birthday party, were lawful work gatherings aimed at boosting morale during a challenging period of the pandemic.

The committee’s report, expected to be published in the coming weeks, could have led to Johnson’s suspension from the House of Commons if it determined that he had deliberately lied.

By resigning preemptively, Johnson evaded potential suspension, which might have resulted in his constituents ousting him from his parliamentary seat. This move leaves him free to pursue another candidacy for Parliament in the future—an option he hinted at in his resignation statement. His remarks were highly critical of Sunak, who served as Treasury chief in Johnson’s government before defecting with several other colleagues in July 2022, leading to Johnson’s forced departure.

Johnson’s resignation occurred shortly after King Charles III honored loyal aides and allies of Johnson with knighthoods and other honors, a customary practice for former prime ministers. However, this tradition sparked accusations of cronyism from opponents of the ousted leader.

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