Angry Tory MPs to have their say about Boris Johnson despite No10 hopes of defusing civil war

Rishi Sunak’s hopes of defusing a Tory civil war over the Privileges Committee report look set to be dashed on Monday when a series of Conservative MPs will make clear their intention to back the 90-day suspension of Boris Johnson.

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said on Sunday he planned to abstain in any vote on the motion to endorse the committee’s report, which found that the former prime minister had lied repeatedly to parliament over Partygate.

Mr Gove’s comments, and the fact that a number of Tory MPs also indicated their intention to abstain in what would be a free vote, suggests that the government was trying to spike the guns of Mr Johnson’s supporters and block any attempt to portray him as a martyr. A Downing Street source insisted it was a free vote.

But a number of senior Conservative backbenchers made clear they wanted to vote in favour of the report to put on record to voters their disapproval of Mr Johnson’s conduct.

A senior Tory MP who plans to support the report told i his colleagues should not cave into what he called “Boris bullies” – supporters of Mr Johnson who had briefed last week that any MP who backed the report would face deselection battles in their constituency.

The senior Tory said Mr Johnson’s supporters amounted to “only half a dozen – you can tell who they are – Sir this, Dame that” – in reference to the list of MPs who were given honours by Mr Johnson earlier this month, including Sir Jacob Rees Mogg and Dame Priti Patel.

The MP added: “No10 would rather people abstain as they want to move on and talk about the economy. But there is a lot of exasperation around [about Mr Johnson].

“There is a carefully coordinated exercise to try to make him look like a martyr. But in the end politics doesn’t select for courage, and we will see more people hiding than we will see people voting.”

During a 90-minute Commons debate on the report, the committee’s Labour chairman Harriet Harman is expected to be scathing in her criticism of Mr Johnson’s conduct, including the way he attacked her committee before their final report was published.

A number of Tory MPs may also speak in favour of the report’s findings and criticise Mr Johnson’s behaviour.

The Speaker will then ask MPs if they back the motion to endorse the committee’s report. If no MPs – including from Mr Johnson’s camp – do not shout their opposition, triggering a division, the motion is carried without a vote.

Mr Johnson – who himself will be away from the Commons celebrating his 59th birthday – is understood to have told allies not to oppose the report. The 90-day suspension will now be indicative only, as the former premier has resigned as an MP.

Former Brexit Secretary David Davis told GB News: “If there’s a vote, I will vote to support the committee and the reason for that is I’ve actually read the report.”

Mr Gove told BBC1’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg he planned to abstain because “the decision to impose a 90-day penalty is not merited by the evidence that the committee has put forward”.

A backbench Tory MP echoed Mr Gove’s comments, telling i: “I think some MPs are a lot angrier about [Privileges Committee] than they’re willing to let on… 90 days is just ridiculous.”

But another backbencher said: “There’s not much in the Commons tomorrow so I expect it’ll be quite quiet. A lot of abstentions and people staying away. The party is desperate to draw a line under this.”

However Tobias Ellwood, Conservative chair of the defence committee, had said he planned to abstain in any vote but after hearing the views of listeners while in an interview with LBC, he changed his mind and said: “I’m moved by what I hear I will now change my plans for tomorrow, I will change my plans and come back early and vote to support the Privileges Committee.

“I’m happy to be persuaded by good people that listen to your show and who expect high standards and you’re right if I can’t emulate those high standards where do we go.”