Boris Johnson partygate report to be published ‘promptly’ after ex-PM’s attack, blasts Privileges Committee

A Commons investigation into whether Boris Johnson misled Parliament has hit back at the former Prime Minister after he branded the probe a “kangaroo court” in a bombshell resignation statement.

The Privileges Committee said its report into whether the former Prime Minister misled MPs over partygate will be published “promptly”.

In a statement, the committee said its cross-party panel of MPs will meet on Monday to complete its inquiry.

A Privileges Committee spokesperson said: “The Committee has followed the procedures and the mandate of the House at all times and will continue to do so.

“Mr Johnson has departed from the processes of the House and has impugned the integrity of the House by his statement.

“The Committee will meet on Monday to conclude the inquiry and to publish its report promptly.”

Mr Johnson announced he was resigning as an MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, with immediate effect triggering a second potentially difficult by-election for Rishi Sunak’s government after Nadine Dorries also resigned on Friday.

He accused the Privileges Committee probe of mounting a “political hit job” and of attempting to “drive me out” while claiming the investigation “reeks of prejudice”.

In a furious resignation speech, he revealed the committee had planned to recommend he be suspended from Parliament for misleading Parliament.

And declaring war on Rishi Sunak’s leadership, he accused the Prime Minister of squandering the 2019 election majority, pointing to the gap between Labour and the Tories in the polls having “massively widened” since he left No 10.

He attacked Mr Sunak’s handling of the economy, tax, Brexit, trade and housing, while threatening in a parting shot that he could return to the Commons saying he was leaving Parliament “for now”.

Mr Johnson had accused the probe, chaired by veteran Labour MP Harriet Harman, of “bias” and suggested it was attempting to use its investigation to “drive me out of Parliament” in a move he said was motivated by a desire to reverse Brexit.

Several reports have suggested the committee had ruled that Mr Johnson did lie to the Commons when he said that Covid rules were followed in Downing Street following reports that lockdown-busting parties were held during the pandemic.

The committee was said to be recommending a 10-day suspension from the Commons, a conclusion which would have resulted in a recall petition among his constituents and a potential by-election in his Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency.

Mr Johnson’s resignation means Rishi Sunak’s Tories face a tough battle to hold onto his old seat at an upcoming by-election.

Polling released by Savanta suggested Labour, which came second at the 2019 election in Uxbridge, currently holds a 14-point lead over the Tories in Mr Johnson’s former west London constituency.