Boris Johnson ‘orders Tory MPs to block new Partygate probe’

April 20, 2022 Ava

Boris Johnson has ordered Tory MPs to block a new probe into whether he lied to Parliament over Partygate, according to reports.

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The Prime Minister is scheduled to jet to India today despite the trip clashing with a Commons vote tomorrow over the PM’s claim from the despatch box last year that all lockdown rules were followed in Downing Street.

And Tory whips are telling MP to vote against a motion referring Mr Johnson for investigation to the Commons Privilege’s Committee, reports The Times.

It comes in the wake of a swathe of dozens of £50 fines, including for the PM himself and for his wife Carrie, for breaking the Covid laws in 2020 and 2021.

The committee has the power to summon reports and documents. It means that MPs could request to see the full version of senior civil servant Sue Gray’s inquiry into the Downing Street lockdown gatherings and any potential photographic evidence that exists.

While the Conservatives’ 80-strong majority means that the Government will almost certainly win the vote and block the investigation, it keeps the row in the headlines at a time when the PM wants it buried by other issues.

Labour will also hope it pushes reluctant Tories furious at the lawbreaking into the open by making them abstain.

A party source earlier said: ‘Any Conservative MP considering voting to block this investigation would be voting for a cover up. They should reflect on the mess they got themselves into over Owen Paterson before falling into line.’

Mr Johnson is under renewed pressure after he was told to resign by Conservative former chief whip Mark Harper, who said he was no longer ‘worthy’ of being Prime Minister.

That came despite Mr Johnson apologising dozens of times in the Commons and insisting he did not know he was breaching his own Covid rules after being fined by police.

Tory whips are telling MP to vote against a motion referring Mr Johnson for investigation to the Commons Privilege’s Committee, reports The Times. Pictured: Chief Whip Chris Heaton-Harris

Mr Johnson is under renewed pressure after he was told to resign by Conservative former chief whip Mark Harper (above), who said he was no longer ‘worthy’ of being Prime Minister

Sir Lindsay Hoyle approved a Labour plan for a debate and vote on Thursday over the PM’s claim from the despatch box last year that all lockdown rules were followed in Downing Street.

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What is the vote about?

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and other senior MPs requested the Commons vote after the Prime Minister was fined for attending his own lockdown-busting birthday party in No 10 in June 2020.

They argue that Mr Johnson’s previous assertions that ‘the guidance was followed and the rules were followed at all times’ in Downing Street and that ‘no Covid rules were broken’ misled Parliament – although those remarks in the Commons were not specifically related to the birthday gathering.

Ministers normally decide what is debated and when, but in this case Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle ruled that the issue should be given parliamentary time.

He said it was not up to him to decide whether there had been a contempt of Parliament, but ‘my role is to decide whether there is an arguable case to be examined’.

Sir Keir will table a motion for the debate and vote on Thursday. He is expected to call for the Prime Minister’s conduct to be examined by the Committee of Privileges, which considers issues relating to contempt of Parliament. Mr Johnson will miss the vote as he will be on a visit to India.

The Prime Minister has a working majority of 75 and it would take a massive revolt of Tory MPs to agree to refer the matter to the committee.

But by forcing Tory MPs to reject an investigation into whether the Prime Minister lied to Parliament, the Opposition parties hope to gain a political weapon to use as voters head to the ballot boxes for local elections across the country in May.

Sir Lindsay said he had received letters from a number of MPs on the issue. He said the procedure is set out in parliament’s Erskine May procedural rule book, noting: ‘It is not for me to police the ministerial code, I have no jurisdiction over the ministerial code even though a lot of people seem to think I have. It is not the case.

‘Secondly, it is not for me to determine whether or not the Prime Minister has committed a contempt. My role is to decide whether there is an arguable case to be examined.

‘Having considered the issue, having taken advice from the clerks of the House, I’ve decided that this is a matter that I should allow the precedence accorded to the issue of privilege. Therefore, (Sir Keir Starmer) may table a motion for debate on Thursday.’

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey urged Tory MPs to ‘do their patriotic duty’ in Thursday’s vote on the Prime Minister’s conduct.

He said: ‘The British public have declared Boris Johnson a liar. Now it’s time for Parliament to do the same.

‘The country cannot afford a Prime Minister who breaks the law and lies about it, especially when families are facing a cost-of-living crisis.

‘Johnson has taken the British people for fools for far too long, and it’s time for Conservative MPs to show where they stand. They must do their patriotic duty and kick Boris Johnson out of Downing Street once and for all.’

But Mr Johnson denied intentionally misleading MPs in the past with his denials, including when he assured ‘all guidance was followed completely’ in Downing Street.

Instead, Mr Johnson apologised repeatedly for the ‘mistake’ of his 56th birthday gathering in No 10 in June 2020, as the police investigation into further alleged parties continues.

Government sources insisted the trip for talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi was ‘definitely happening’ despite pressure to cancel it so he can attend the debate.

He is set to depart after Prime Minister’s Questions.

The wording of the motion being tabled by Labour and other opposition MPs was not yet clear, but was expected to refer Mr Johnson for investigation by the Commons Privileges Committee.

Tory MP Craig Whittaker, one of the Conservatives to call for Mr Johnson’s resignation, urged the Prime Minister to instead refer himself to avoid taking colleagues to ‘the brink’.

Noting Mr Johnson denies intentionally misleading the House, Mr Whittaker told BBC Newsnight: ‘If that’s the case, what I would like to see is the Prime Minister referring himself to the privileges committee so that he doesn’t take all of my colleagues, including myself, to the brink on Thursday evening.’

The committee has the power to summon reports and documents, meaning MPs could request a full version of senior civil servant Sue Gray’s inquiry into lockdown breaches as well as photographic evidence.

Shadow Commons leader Thangam Debbonaire conceded the Tories may be able to amend the opposition motion, but urged Conservative MPs to ‘do the right thing, listen to their constituents’.

Mr Harper revealed he had submitted a letter to the 1922 Committee of backbench Conservatives calling for a no confidence vote after branding Mr Johnson’s actions ‘indefensible’.

‘I’m very sorry to have to say this, but I no longer think he is worthy of the great office that he holds,’ Mr Harper told MPs.

A no-confidence vote in the Prime Minister is triggered if 1922 chair Sir Graham Brady has 54 letters from Tory MPs. The number submitted is a closely-guarded secret.

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Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer told ITV’s Lorraine: ‘I don’t think you can say to people ”oh just move on”, I also don’t accept this argument … that it is a bit like a speeding fine. It isn’t like a speeding fine at all’

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The Prime Minister was fined £50 for attending a rule breaking birthday party in Downing Street in June 2020

Plans for Mr Johnson to visit India have been twice cancelled in the past, first over the UK’s winter wave of Covid infections and then in April last year in response to a new variant hitting India.

But a second Government source insisted there was ‘no way’ the latest trip will be cancelled, arguing it is ‘critical for jobs, trade, investment and diplomacy’.

The Prime Minister is expected to encourage Mr Modi to loosen ties with Vladimir Putin’s Russia when they meet in New Delhi on Friday.

Downing Street said Mr Johnson will not seek to ‘lecture’ his Indian counterpart, despite concerns within Government that Mr Modi has not been strong enough in condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Instead, No 10 said Mr Johnson will promise to work with India and other countries in a similar position to reduce their dependence on Russian fossil fuels and defence equipment.

Source: Thanks msn.com