UK lawmakers likely to back a scathing report that slammed Boris Johnson over ‘partygate’

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A report condemning Boris Johnson for his alleged dishonesty about lockdown-breaching gatherings in his office is set to be supported by the House of Commons in the UK, a damaging endorsement that could result in the ex-prime minister losing his perpetual access to Parliament.

The incriminating report by the Privileges Committee, which declared Johnson in contempt of Parliament, was to be debated and likely accepted by lawmakers. It remained uncertain whether the acceptance would be through a formal vote or a consensus.

House of Commons Leader, Penny Mordaunt, implored her colleagues to act in accordance with their conscience. Despite being from the same Conservative Party as Johnson, Mordaunt confirmed she would vote in favour of the report given a formal vote. She stressed the importance of maintaining integrity in their institutions for the sake of accountability towards each other and the public they represent.

Johnson, however, vehemently denounced the report, labeling its findings as “deranged” and its members as being involved in an ongoing political attack against him. However, few of his staunch political allies expressed their intentions to vote against the report’s findings. As the debate commenced, many Conservative Party members were noticeably absent from the House of Commons. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was non-committal about his involvement in the debate, likely to avoid upsetting Johnson’s remaining supporters.

Absent from the proceedings was Johnson, who had resigned from his role as a lawmaker on June 9, following his receipt of the Privileges Committee’s findings. The debate is a continued fallout from the “partygate” scandal related to gatherings at Downing Street and other government buildings during 2020 and 2021.

These gatherings, which included birthday celebrations, garden parties, and informal “wine time Fridays,” elicited strong public reactions, particularly from those who diligently followed lockdown rules and suffered personal losses during the pandemic. The scandal was recently reignited following the publication of video footage showing political staffers partying at the Conservative Party headquarters in December 2020, when social mixing between households was prohibited.

Despite initially denying the existence of such parties, Johnson later insisted that all pandemic-related rules were obeyed. The committee, however, found his assurances misleading and highlighted his failure to correct his statements when given the opportunity.

The committee, comprised of four Conservatives and three opposition legislators, argued that Johnson’s actions constituted a serious breach of rules, warranting a 90-day suspension from Parliament. However, Johnson managed to avoid this sanction by resigning. He may face further consequences, such as being stripped of his lifetime access to Parliament, traditionally granted to former lawmakers.

Johnson’s turbulent tenure and controversial legacy pose a challenge for his successor, Rishi Sunak, who pledged to bring professionalism and integrity back to government. As the Conservatives lag behind the main opposition Labour Party in opinion polls, they face imminent electoral tests in the form of four special elections for seats left vacant due to Johnson’s resignation and other scandals.

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